25 ‘dangerous’ sex offenders removed from State
A total of 25 sex offenders has now been removed from the State, the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan has said.
This consists of 14 non-EU nationals and 11 EU nationals who are now all subject to exclusion periods from Ireland.
The minister welcomed the progress of Garda ‘Operation Moonridge’, which in 2025 began identifying and deporting dangerous non-Irish nationals convicted of sexual crimes.
It targets convicted sex offenders of interest to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) for consideration for an EU Removal Order or deportation.
Public confidence
“This work being undertaken by specialised units within An Garda Síochána is critical for the protection of people and for building public confidence in Ireland’s immigration system.
“I am implementing a rules-based migration system, which means if a person commits serious offences while in the State, that person will be caught and removed,” he said.
Operation Moonridge involves information sharing between the Garda National Immigration Bureau and key agencies – including the Garda National Protective Services Bureau, the Garda Sex Offenders Management Intelligence Unit (SOMIU) and Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration units.
Minister of State Colm Brophy added: “It is a key priority for me that people who hold an immigration permission who are involved in criminality and who pose a danger to society are removed from Ireland
“The enforcement aspect of our immigration laws are essential to ensure that our communities are kept safe,” he said.