LAST UPDATE | 10 Jan

GARDAÍ HAVE LAUNCHED a human trafficking investigation after 14 people were found in a refrigerated trailer at Rosslare Port in Co Wexford.

Nine men, three women and two girls were discovered in the vehicle at Rosslare Europort at around 3am on Monday.

UK authorities were alerted after a 999 call was made from inside the trailer, which was subsequently passed on to gardaí.

All 14 have been assessed by medical personnel and deemed to be in good health.

Gardaí attached to Wexford Garda Station, supported by the Garda National Immigration Bureau, are investigating all of the circumstances.

A garda spokesperson said they are “liaising closely with international counterparts through Europol in The Hague” and that the ship’s crew are assisting with enquiries.

Gardaí are appealing for anyone who may have information in relation to this incident, no matter how insignificant it may appear, to contact Wexford Garda Station 053-9165200, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 66 11 or any Garda Station.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said it was “fortuitous” that there were no deaths.

McEntee said: “I was extremely concerned to learn of the discovery of 14 people, including two children, in a refrigerated trailer at Rosslare Port on Monday and I would like to thank the emergency services for their initial response.”

“We know from past experience that similar situations have led to tragic fatalities. This was an extremely hazardous undertaking and it is only fortuitous that the same did not happen yesterday.

In 2001, eight people, including two children, suffocated and lost their lives in a container that had been brought into Rosslare Europort.

McEntee appealed for anyone with any information that might assist with the ongoing investigation to contact gardaí.

A local councillor in Rosslare said the people inside the trailer were 28 hours into their journey when they were rescued, and that they were struggling to breathe.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland programme today, local councillor Ger Carthy said that: “There were a number of ambulances, and interpreters there when the ship docked at Rosslare Europort, and the people on board were cared for and subsequently transferred to a processing centre in Dublin.”

“It seems to be a challenging and very dangerous trip for anyone to make, but I believe that they may have been experiencing trouble breathing, and may have had to break a hole from within the ship to access air,” he added.

Carthy said people are coming from possibly war-torn countries in hope of a better life, but that people end up making a 30 hour journey to Rosslare Europort which can be fatal in some instances.

“The Government should be on alert that we will see more and more of this with the situation with displacement across the world,” said Carthy.

The councillor added that he understands that asylum applications for people found inside the trailer are being dealt with on an expedited basis.

Elsewhere, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said: “We have to do everything to try and avoid such carriage and passage because it is dangerous and a risk to the lives of those who are put on those trucks or go onto it, we have to do what we can to try and reduce or completely eliminate it”.

Ryan added that though it is “nearly impossible” to completely stop dangerous crossings from taking place, “the UK Government with France” are amongst those countries who have tried.

- Contains reporting from Press Association.