Pakistanis being deported from Ireland to Pakistan were served pork during their flight

Pakistanis being deported from Ireland to Pakistan were served pork  during their flight from Dublin to Islamabad.

Pork sausages were served during the deportation of 24 men to Pakistan on an Airbus A330. But Human rights observers said halal food would be available, but it was 'not specified in the flight brief'. According to a Human Rights Watch report, the new catering on deportation flights has been changed after pork sausages were included as part of the Irish breakfast served on the forced return flight to Pakistan.

The first chartered deportation flight, which brought 24 men to the country with a majority Muslim population, took place on September 23, 2025. Gardaí, a doctor and an interpreter were also on board, along with a human rights monitor.

The Justice Department has assigned a monitor to each deportation flight, to report on the treatment and control measures of returnees and other activities, to make recommendations, or to note unusual good practices. The reports indicate that the operations were “overall” conducted in a humane manner and with respect for the “rights and dignity of returnees.”

On the September 23 flight, Garda feedback on two meals served was that "the quality of the food provided was below expectations and the serving of pork sausages as part of the Irish breakfast was inappropriate". The monitor understood that halal food would be available, but it was "not specified in the flight brief".

The men on the charter to Pakistan were detained in three prisons the previous night. Two were assessed as high risk, one because of previous crimes, the other because of their behavior in prison. Several police escorts were used for each deportee.

As they were being taken to the plane, one person was concerned that a garda was pointing a mobile phone at him and recording the video. But they persuaded him to board the plane and "confirmed that the recording was taking place".  More than three times as many Gardaí were taken on deportation flights because they failed to seek asylum, the report said.

Shortly after the plane landed in Islamabad, two men returned to the plane "disturbed". One had not received his mobile phone and the other had lost his luggage. These were handed over to the Irish Prison Service Garda team. It is a recurring problem in reports that the belongings of those who are trafficked are not always returned. However, the men were assured that their belongings that were not returned would be returned.

A total of 52 people were returned to Georgia on a flight on November 3, 2025. They were accompanied by 35 men, seven women, three families consisting of mothers with children ranging in age from five months to 17 years, 113 gardai and two support staff.

A man was tied to the ground and handcuffed before being taken to the aircraft by gardaí. The monitor said that as one man was being lifted from the van, “there was a struggle” heard. A “soft mat” was brought into the vehicle and “immediately the man who returned was removed from the van and laid on the mat, face up.” Several gardaí gathered. He was then taken to the plane. On the plane, he kept asking for his phone, the monitor said.