TWENTY-SIX SYRIANS fled to Ireland to seek refuge from the spiraling violence since the beginning of the year.

The number has more than doubled in comparison to the same time last year when less than 10 people from Syria applied for refugee status from the State.

In response to a parliamentary question by Deputy Denis Naughten, Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said that overall there were 465 new applications for refugee status in Ireland between the beginning of 2013 and the end of June, just 16 more than the 449 who sought refuge during the same period in 2012.

Nigerians make up the highest number of applicants seeking asylum at 63, while Pakistani asylum seekers in Ireland come in second at 58.

Since the Syrian crisis began, 1.6 million people have fled the country, while the UN Refugee Agency has warned that Syrian refugee numbers could hit 3.5 million by the end of this year.

Here is a breakdown of the applications received:

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