On September 23 last year, Ireland flew 24 men from Dublin to Islamabad on its inaugural chartered deportation flight. A human‑rights monitor found that the in‑flight breakfast included pork sausages, a clear oversight given the passengers' Muslim faith.

Pork sausages served on September 23 deportation flight

According to the Department of Justice‑appointed monitor, gardaí complained that the food was "of a lower standard than expected" and that the inclusion of pork in a "full Irish breakfast" was "inappropriate". The report noted that halal meals were available but had not been specified in the flight brief, leading to the mistake.

€473,000 price tag sparks scrutiny of Ireland’s deportation programme

The Pakistan flight cost €473,000 (£410 ,000), part of a wider crackdown that saw Ireland charter flights to Georgia, Nigeria and Romania for a total of roughly €1 million last year. The Department of Justice says at least 205 illegal immigrants and convicted criminals were removed on those flights.

Under Irish immigration law, asylm seekers may be offered up to €10,000 to return voluntarily; those who refuse face forced removal,often on chartered aircraft escorted by gardaí, a doctor, an interpreter and an independent monitor.

Air Partner revises menu after monitoring report

Following the incident, aviation services firm Air Partner, which operates Ireland’s deportation flights, announced a change to the catering menu for future journeys. The adjustment aims to ensure that dietary requirements, especially halal, are clearly communicated in flight briefs.

Human‑rights monitor flags distress and luggage delays

The monitor’s report said the operation was carried out "humanely" and with respect for the "rights and dignity of the returnees", but it also recorded several issues. One deportee became distressed when he believed a garda was filming him; the monitor later confirmed recording was taking place.. After landing, two men returned to the aircraft agitated, one claiming his mobile phone had not been returned and another unable to locate his luggage. Delays in returning personal belongings have been a recurring complaint across multiple flights.

Why was halal not specified in the flight brief?

The report does not explain why the flight brief omitted halal specifications, nor does it identify who was responsible for the catering oversight. It also leaves unanswered whether similar lapses occurred on the other chartered flights to Georgia, Nigeria or Romania.

According to the Irish Times, the details emerged after a Freedom of Information battle with the Department of Justice, highlighting the limited transparency surrounding Ireland’s deportation logistics.