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Isleworth Crown Court Google Maps

People smugglers jailed after attempts to transport Georgian nationals into UK through Ireland

The gang tried to use the Common Travel Area between Ireland and Britain.

THREE MEMBERS OF an organised crime gang have been jailed for people smuggling in the UK after a joint operation between gardaí and British police. 

The three gang members were jailed for nine years at Isleworth Crown Court for assisting the illegal immigration into the UK of Georgian nationals.

The gang tried to use the Common Travel Area between Ireland and Britain to smuggle people into the UK via Ireland. 

Their convictions followed an investigation by Immigration Enforcement Criminal and Financial Investigation (CFI) officers in the UK which started in June 2017 and was 
supported by the Cross Boarder Joint Agency Task Force (JATF).

A further three members of the gang were sentenced to six years in prison following earlier hearings.

Members from the Garda National Immigration Bureau were in the UK during the search and arrest phase of the operation.

Detective Chief Superintendent David Dowling of the Garda National Immigration Bureau said the operation “is an example of the continued cooperation between the relevant agencies in our efforts to target all types of criminal activity, including illegal immigration in both jurisdictions. 

“Garda National Immigration Bureau has collaborated and shared intelligence throughout this investigation and will continue to work closely with all our law enforcement partners.”

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16 Comments
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    Mute Lynne Anthony
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    May 11th 2017, 10:54 AM

    Absolutely tragic, children suffering through no fault of their own and their young lives cut short. Heartbreaking. I hope they are at peace.

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    Mute Just Me
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    May 11th 2017, 11:28 AM

    Unfortunately these incidence will happen with a culture of 9-5 and staff levels so low they are overwhelmed with a workload of Dickensian proportions.

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    Mute John B
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    May 11th 2017, 12:12 PM

    @Just Me: having a wife in this area, I can tell you that a lot of these cases can’t be helped no matter how much money you throw at the problem. The only way to save this children would be forced adoption at birth, but this is a free world.

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    Mute Anthony Gallagher
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    May 11th 2017, 12:27 PM

    Terrible indictment of the standard of care these vulnerable children have had to endure ,unfortunately most come from dysfunctional homes,so life is against them from the outset .lack of staff ,poor resources and a continuing acceptance that these things just are part of the modern social fabric, cover up that social and mental health services are grossly underfunded .we talk about vulnerable children ,what about vulnerable adults ,those that have turned up at various mental health units around the country and been scivved off after seeking admission .given tablets and a note to see their gp ,only to commit suicide within hours .no one wants to know ,sooner its forgotten about the better for everyone .Ireland covered a lot of these problems up for years ,its time they learned to treat all our children as equals irrespective of their social status or mental health .

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    Mute Matty kinevan
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    May 11th 2017, 10:49 AM

    Nothing more tragic than a child committing suicide

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    Mute Stephanie Lynch
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    May 11th 2017, 11:53 PM

    @Matty kinevan: its not committed…its ‘died by suicide’…gone are the days when it was an offence…

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    Mute JayK
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    May 11th 2017, 1:14 PM

    Funny how comments are lamenting the tragic loss now that the kids are dead, but when the kids are alive they’re “little gurriers” who should be beaten and tortured. Have a look at the comments on the article below and hang your heads in shame.

    http://www.thejournal.ie/oberstown-violence-strike-impact-dublin-3114538-Dec2016/

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    Mute Anon Ymous
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    May 11th 2017, 1:54 PM

    @JayK: Exactly what I was thinking. Had they lived, these are the same children who would be referred to as ‘scrotes’, here, in the comments section, in a few years time, after racking up a number of convictions.

    They don’t have a chance for the get go.

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    Mute Noirin Kavanagh
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    May 11th 2017, 6:09 PM

    @JayK: excellent comment, I agree fully. It’s ok to label and mock these people as teens and adults, without any thought about the reality of their lives up to this point.

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