Ireland expelled 24 Romanian men aged between 24 and 57 on Sunday, 18 October, with the flight landing in Bucharest at 22:00 Romanian time.
Gardaí said all 24 had been convicted and given custodial sentences, with 18 taken directly from prison and six arrested and held until the flight.
Brophy said this operation brings the 2026 total on chartered flights to 245, including 91 EU citizens expelled for crimes, while RTE reported 148 removed under the Free Movement Directive so far this year.
Dublin
Dublin, Bucharest · Ireland, Romania
How it came to this
18 OctChartered flight leaves Dublin Airport with 24 Romanian men on board
18 OctFlight lands in Bucharest at 22:00 Romanian time
Flight from Dublin to Bucharest
Ireland removed 24 Romanian men on Sunday, 18 October, aboard a chartered aircraft. The plane left Dublin Airport at 16:25 local time and landed in Bucharest at 22:00 Romanian time, which RTE gives as 8pm Irish time. The men were aged between 24 and 57. Eighteen had been serving prison sentences and were taken directly from custody, while six had been arrested in different parts of Ireland and held until the flight. Gardaí said all 24 had been convicted before the courts and had received custodial sentences. Garda personnel, medical staff, interpreters and a human rights observer travelled with them.
Legal basis and offences
Gardaí said the men were removed under immigration orders issued by Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan, using the Free Movement Directive. EU free movement rules allow a member state to expel a citizen of another member state when authorities judge that person to be a serious threat to public safety, welfare or public order. The offences listed for the group include burglary, domestic violence, sexual assault, drug trafficking and organised crime, according to The Irish Times. Eighteen of the men were removed directly from prison custody.
“I will take action if our laws are not upheld and this includes enforcing removal orders for individuals who are a danger to the public.”
O'Callaghan said he would act if laws were not upheld. He thanked gardaí, his department and the Irish Prison Service for carrying out the operation.
Charter flights and cost
Colm Brophy, a state secretary at the Ministry of Justice, said that everyone living in Ireland must obey its laws. He said most Romanian citizens living in Ireland respect those laws and contribute positively to Irish society. Brophy also said six other special flights had been run earlier this year, removing 221 people, and that this operation brings the total removed on chartered aircraft in 2026 to 245, including 91 EU citizens expelled for crimes. RTE reported a different count, stating that 148 people had been removed under the Free Movement Directive so far this year. The Department of Justice put the cost of the aircraft at €182,270, excluding VAT.
Ireland deports 24 Romanian men convicted of crimes on a chartered flight
The 24 men, aged 24 to 57, were flown from Dublin to Bucharest on Sunday, 18 October, on an aircraft that cost €182,270 excluding VAT. Gardaí said all of them had been convicted and given custodial sentences.
AI text based on reports by G4Media.ro and RTE.ie. Published .