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Antrim businessman James Hagan says he has been left to sleep in a vehicle at a South African airport James Hagan/PA

Antrim couple left stranded in Johannesburg because they're at 'high risk' of coronavirus

James Hagan claimed they are being held airside and left to sleep in a vehicle overnight.

A NORTHERN IRELAND businessman says he has been denied entry to South Africa because he is deemed as “high risk” in terms of coronavirus.

James Hagan, from Ballyclare, said he has been left “stranded” on the tarmac at Lanseria International Airport, Johannesburg, for the last 36 hours.

The Hagan Homes owner said he and his wife Anne were denied entry to South Africa due to “newly introduced visa restrictions” over the Covid-19 infection.

He has claimed they are being held airside and left to sleep in a vehicle overnight.

The couple had been travelling in Zimbabwe and flew to the airport yesterday on a private charter flight.

They are due to fly home from Cape Town on Sunday on a commercial flight.

Hagan said he and his wife had completed all the necessary health screening forms and waited 27 hours to get the required flight permit to land in Lanseria.

However he said upon arrival at the airport, they were refused entry and told they were deemed to be “high risk”.

Hagan claimed they were “kept in an interview room for several hours on arrival”.

He said he has been in contact with the local British Embassy.

“I have been here for 36 hours and this is the bed I am sleeping in,” he said, motioning towards a van in a video he sent to media outlets from the tarmac.

“We’re allowed into the building to go to the toilet and nothing else.

“One of the handling agents was good enough to lend us the Volkswagen to sleep in. It is madness.”

Hagan said they cannot leave the airport in the plane they came in because their entry to South Africa has been refused.

He added that his wife Anne is a nurse who wants to help with the coronavirus crisis in the UK. She has previously managed a specialist respiratory clinic.

This trip was described as a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to celebrate Anne’s 60th birthday, but the couple say it has now turned in to a “living nightmare”.

The Foreign Office and the airport have been contacted for a response.

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    Mute Sean Ryan
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    Mar 19th 2020, 10:48 PM

    What does he want? Special rules to apply to him?

    692
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    Mute Pauline Mulvey
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    Mar 19th 2020, 10:58 PM

    @Sean Ryan: looks like it alright. Beats me why they travelled during these uncertain times in the first place!

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    Mute LittleBee
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:17 PM

    @Pauline Mulvey: they were already travelling they were trying to get home

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    Mute Elizabeth Doyle
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    Mar 20th 2020, 12:00 AM

    @Pauline Mulvey: when did they fly out and surely they must know the rapidly daily changing world since early Jan.

    69
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    Mute Patricia O'Reilly
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    Mar 20th 2020, 12:16 AM

    @Sean Ryan: no.. But a proper quarantine room would be the least I’d expect. You can’t leave people on the tarmac of an airport They should be allowed fly back to zimbabwe.

    72
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    Mute Mary Downes Montcho
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    Mar 20th 2020, 5:58 AM

    @Patricia O’Reilly: have you ever been to Africa? There’s Not exactly a huge amount of resources available

    34
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    Mute Sean Ryan
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    Mar 20th 2020, 7:21 AM

    @Radek: great input. Thanks.

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    Mute Euro McPúnty
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    Mar 20th 2020, 7:48 AM

    @Mary Downes Montcho: depends what city

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    Mute Clarke Owen
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    Mar 20th 2020, 11:50 AM

    @Sean Ryan: you’re obviously a very loving compassionate human being.

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    Mute Pat Corrigan
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:07 PM

    One of my cousins has the same kind of rich mans dilemma, except he’s trapped on his yacht in Nice and can’t get a flight out, he actually believes he’s some kind of hero…pleb of the sea I say

    238
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    Mute Patricia O'Reilly
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    Mar 20th 2020, 12:21 AM

    @Pat Corrigan: jealousy is a terrible trait.

    96
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    Mute LittleBee
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    Mar 20th 2020, 2:06 AM

    @Patricia O’Reilly: I could decided if it was jealousy or bragging.

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    Mute Mike McGann
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    Mar 20th 2020, 8:10 AM

    @Pat Corrigan: are we related?

    7
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    Mute Dalya Al-Tulaihi
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    Mar 19th 2020, 10:51 PM

    What did they expect? Literally every country in the world has made restrictions in allowing people in/out of the country so what’s so special about him that he should be allowed to go where ever he wants? Sit in your house and shut up, everyone else already did!

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    Mute Dara O'Brien
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    Mar 19th 2020, 10:53 PM

    @Dalya Al-Tulaihi: maybe you shouldn’t have been so quick to ask for college to close – you should try read the article again

    81
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    Mute Dalya Al-Tulaihi
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    Mar 19th 2020, 10:57 PM

    @Dara O’Brien: already read the article. Maybe you should stop stalking my comments and replying to every one I make.. :)

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    Mute Dara O'Brien
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:04 PM

    @Dalya Al-Tulaihi: really? Why did you say ‘sit in your house’ when he’s in a van in south Africa?

    41
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    Mute Dalya Al-Tulaihi
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:10 PM

    @Dara O’Brien: you’re a slow one aren’t ya?? Maybe you should go back and read my comment and try and understand, like everyone to like my comment did! It’s so simple, only requires a couple of brain cells :)

    Anyways, here’s what I meant:
    Sit in your house – don’t travel, postpone your travels, change your travel dates, wait until this crisis is over, take care of your health, put your health and your loved ones’ health first, SIT YO A$$ HOME AND STOP TRAVELLING FOR THE TIME BEING.

    They wouldn’t be in SA if they sat home in the first place.

    Have a LOVELY night.

    97
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    Mute LittleBee
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:19 PM

    @Dalya Al-Tulaihi: they were already travelling round Zimbabwe, they were trying to get home.

    59
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    Mute Dalya Al-Tulaihi
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:24 PM

    @LittleBee: I’m aware but it’s a matter of when they traveled to Zimbabwe. They could’ve well travelled 2/3 weeks ago, when the outbreak started in Ireland. So if that’s the case then they should take responsibility for their choices.

    If that’s not the case though then hopefully they find a way home.

    48
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    Mute Massimo Gullo
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:33 PM

    @Dalya Al-Tulaihi: why ladies at the first replay they don’t like or agree with their own views, have to use the card : Stalking!
    Come on!!

    39
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    Mute Dara O'Brien
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:40 PM

    @Dalya Al-Tulaihi: Ah, so your whole argument is premised on the important fact of when they travelled, which you left out of every post until now but people are supposed to somehow infer from ‘sit in your house’ …

    Also, unless I’m mistaken, you also refused to ‘sit in your house’ even though you were ‘afraid for your life’ because your classes were still on?

    Poor arguments and questionable judgement … like I said, maybe you shouldn’t have been so eager to have your studies cancelled.

    Keep safe.

    51
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    Mute Dalya Al-Tulaihi
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:49 PM

    @Dara O’Brien: oh my good god LOL I don’t understand why you’re so upset that students have been told to sit home and get work done from home? It’s been a week, get over it.

    And the fact you’ve somehow tried to bring studies and link it to traveling, is beyond me! Students are REQUIRED (in most colleges, mine would be one of them) to maintain a 75% attendance, I have already missed out on college for over two weeks due to an illness in my family which required me to take care of them (and miss out on college), so sitting home was not an option for me, especially when colleges and studies were going ahead, missing those 2 weeks meant I fail the year and repeat, due to my attendance %,
    If you don’t know how colleges work, stop talking and don’t even bother replying if you’re gonna link

    19
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    Mute Dalya Al-Tulaihi
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:50 PM

    @Dara O’Brien: if you’re gonna link COLLEGE and getting an education to TRAVELLING when clearly all countries have made restrictions.

    Just shut up and go do something with your time off, something other than trying to pick on college students, or students in general, for being told to stay home and study from home! Take your anger somewhere else.

    12
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    Mute LittleBee
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:58 PM

    @Dalya Al-Tulaihi: except it doesn’t say when they went travelling, even if it was 2 to.3 weeks ago there was no restriction or advice to reduce travelling, back then. Africa has also only started to report cases recently. What’s really going on here is that you are more upset that he can afford to private charter a plane to try and get home safely. That my dear is called sour grapes.

    54
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    Mute LittleBee
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    Mar 20th 2020, 12:14 AM

    @Dalya Al-Tulaihi: you inferred it when you asked what’s so special about him that he deserves special treatment, like others you have no sympathy because he has a bit of cash, you jumped to the conclusion that he travelled without due care in the middle of a pandemic but you have no idea when he travelled. Travel restrictions have only been put in place in the last few days. Clearly you do care how anyone else travels or you wouldn’t be suggesting this man should just shut up and stay at home.

    47
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    Mute LittleBee
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    Mar 20th 2020, 12:17 AM

    @LittleBee: Your comments are negative and based on very little knowledge of this mans story because well you just want to sit in your ivory tower and judge. If hes stuck in an airport while trying to get home hes allowed to feel scared or annoyed. If someone wants to go for a walk in Ireland and get a take away coffee they are allowed there is zero difference in terms of transmission between getting a take away coffee , filling your car or buying groceries as long as they practice social distancing. Do yourself a favour and get out for a walk yourself you really sound like you need it.

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    Mute Patricia O'Reilly
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    Mar 20th 2020, 12:18 AM

    @Dalya Al-Tulaihi: you don’t know when their trip started. No one expected countries to close. Its unprecedented..

    38
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    Mute Rocky Rocks
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    Mar 20th 2020, 12:21 AM

    @Dalya Al-Tulaihi: haven’t you any pots to clean or cups of tea to make?

    18
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    Mute Dalya Al-Tulaihi
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    Mar 20th 2020, 12:23 AM

    @LittleBee: so much negative energy.. hope things get better at home soon! X

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    Mute Dalya Al-Tulaihi
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    Mar 20th 2020, 12:23 AM

    @Rocky Rocks: nah that’s your mum’s job, her job was also to raise you right.. but look at you! Making sexist remarks. How adorable.

    11
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    Mute EillieEs
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    Mar 20th 2020, 12:31 AM

    @Dalya Al-Tulaihi: replying to people’s comments is called a conversation and what happens in a comment section. Horrible to accuse someone of stalking you.

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    Mute Now or Never
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    Mar 20th 2020, 1:02 AM

    @Dalya Al-Tulaihi: horrible to imply someone is having troubles at home just because they dont agree with your statement. What makes u think that? Strange way to try and get one over on somebody tbh.

    37
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    Mute LittleBee
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    Mar 20th 2020, 1:06 AM

    @Dalya Al-Tulaihi: ha ha ha ha ha ha ha you talk about negative energy, yet all your posts are negative. Stop moaning, get off the journal and do some school work or go for a walk or look for some sort of silver lining in all this madness like that some people are being kind to each other, the canals in venice have cleared of pollution, kids are spending an amazing time being homeschooled which for some will be a memory that will stay with them forever. For every negative there is a counter positive, look for it. How about some kindness to this man who’s trying to get home, how about you start there.

    40
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    Mute Billymaze
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    Mar 20th 2020, 1:18 AM

    @Dalya Al-Tulaihi: I’ll reply to your comments and you can keep your insults to yourself as well. It’s only 9 days since this has become so serious. Anyone could have been anywhere in the world and got stuck trying to get home.

    You’ve been watching too much Star Trek….. there’s no such thing as teleporting yet mate. No matter if you’re rich or poor there’s no getting home if you’re stuck in another country with this unprecedented Covid virus going on.

    Now take those stones out of your hand, relax and stop being like Boris, Trump, Arleen and Mary Lou (although I suspect you voted for her with your whinging) and just thank god you live in Ireland.

    Goodnight.

    33
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    Mute Dalya Al-Tulaihi
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    Mar 20th 2020, 1:20 AM

    @Billymaze: you’ve literally just said what I’ve been saying all along. You tried though.

    3
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    Mute Dalya Al-Tulaihi
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    Mar 20th 2020, 1:21 AM

    @LittleBee: how about you stop moaning over other people’s comments and go to “post comment” instead of “reply to”? How about you start there xo

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    Mute Dalya Al-Tulaihi
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    Mar 20th 2020, 1:22 AM

    @EillieEs: ain’t horrible if it’s the truth.

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    Mute Dalya Al-Tulaihi
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    Mar 20th 2020, 1:23 AM

    @Now or Never: again, not horrible if it’s the truth.

    3
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    Mute LittleBee
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    Mar 20th 2020, 2:02 AM

    @Dalya Al-Tulaihi: Hey like everyone else on here, just calling you out on your bullsh!t, get over it, and what Billymaze said…its absolutely not what you’ve been posting all along, that old bullsh!t radar is going again.

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    Mute LittleBee
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    Mar 20th 2020, 2:13 AM

    @Dalya Al-Tulaihi: wow there is goes again, incredible. Yawn.

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    Mute Charlie
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    Mar 20th 2020, 3:29 AM

    @Dalya Al-Tulaihi: can’t you just accept you jumped to a conclusion for whatever reason and a lot of people didn’t like it. The fact you are getting your back up to the responses is a sure sign you don’t have a clue what your talking about

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    Mute Chris O' Connor
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    Mar 20th 2020, 3:40 AM

    @Dalya Al-Tulaihi: how long does the mute button last when enabled?

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    Mute Daff. Myers
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    Mar 20th 2020, 7:06 AM

    @Dalya Al-Tulaihi: wow

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    Mute Dalya Al-Tulaihi
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    Mar 20th 2020, 10:18 AM

    @Charlie: good thing I don’t post my opinion for people to LIKE it.

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    Mute Dalya Al-Tulaihi
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    Mar 20th 2020, 10:18 AM

    @Chris O’ Connor: forever.

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    Mute Rocky Rocks
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    Mar 20th 2020, 1:06 PM

    @Dalya Al-Tulaihi:are you even capable of making a decent cup of tea…Darling lol

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    Mute Thomas Claffey
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    Mar 20th 2020, 3:25 PM

    @Dalya Al-Tulaihi: Yeah not Ireland where are you living.

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    Mute paul clifford
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:38 PM

    He contacted the British embassy so let them deal with him. As for his wife rushing to return to help fight the virus in the UK pull the other one its got bells on

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    Mute Vic's Burd
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:07 PM

    They hired a private jet to bring them to South Africa 2 days ago in the middle of an international emergency…

    Good luck to them trying to get back! We are closing the airspace in EU soon.

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    Mute Mark
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    Mar 19th 2020, 10:53 PM

    To me it sounds like the right thing is being done here

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    Mute Dara O'Brien
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    Mar 19th 2020, 10:56 PM

    @Mark: I think it depends on one important fact which is omitted – when did they leave NI?

    It says they had been travelling in Zimbabwe and his wife is a respiratory specialist nurse, trying to get back and help.

    If they left the north 1 or 2 months ago then fair’s fair, they should be allowed into SA to get their flight back home.

    If they flew out 1 or two weeks back then tough tittie

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    Mute Patricia O'Reilly
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    Mar 20th 2020, 12:20 AM

    @Mark: what? leaving them outside without shelter? Some employee being kind enough to give them a car to sleep in. Sth Africa is a very violent country. They’ll be lucky if they are not attacked at night. Where do they get food?

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    Mute Tricia G
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    Mar 20th 2020, 9:52 AM

    @Patricia O’Reilly: They’re Airside in the Airport! Not out on the street FFS.

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    Mute Imagine !
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:17 PM

    The experts have complained about false information on social media. They ahev also said this virus is not as infectious as the flu and you would need to be sitting beside someone coughing and spluttering for 5 or 6 minutes to get infected. They said transmission by touching a surface or your face is unlikely. Now given that we are all afraid if this virus globally nobody in their right mind would soend 5 minutes beside someone coughing and spluttering. So its my view given this virus has traversed the entire planet in 8 weeks is that it is very highly contageous. So complete avoidance of all human contact by staying at home is our only hope to slow it down. I think they call this a lockdown. Its my view that closing all non essential shops is one step away from a lockdown. I would prefer people to be able to go for a walk. I just dont want them stopping off for a coffee and muffin.

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    Mute Dalya Al-Tulaihi
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:27 PM

    @Imagine !: agreed, if they want coffee and a muffin then that’s just another wonderful thing someone can practice at home, bake your own muffin and make your own coffee 100% less chance to get infected through handling cups and cutlery from strangers.

    37
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    Mute Steph
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:42 PM

    @Imagine !: That’s not true at all. This virus has been proven to be highly infectious

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    Mute Mark
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    Mar 20th 2020, 12:07 AM

    @Imagine !: I don’t know where you got your facts from because I’ve read weeks ago that experts claim this is highly contagious and that an influenza carrier on average will pass it onto 1.3 people while covid19 has been seen to be passed on to between 2 and 3 people so its twice as contagious

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    Mute mary o dwyer
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:30 PM

    Why is recreational travel happening and then people are shocked when problems getting back and if the virus gets in to townships social distancing would not be possible . Again we all need to stop unnecessary travel and think of humanity and not self . Money paid for flights is just money . Life is precious and people are just not stepping up to put self second . We win or loose many needless lives in these next days depending on how we step up to the tack of us not me

    56
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    Mute LittleBee
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    Mar 20th 2020, 12:24 AM

    @mary o dwyer: It doesn’t say when his trip began just that he was travelling in Zimbabwe. He could have left Ireland a month ago which would have been a very different situation.

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    Mute LittleBee
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    Mar 20th 2020, 2:11 AM

    Don’t you just love the Irish…we’re in this together, let’s support each other.lets help each other out…oh wait your mans loaded ah serves him right leave him on the tarmac. lol , I’ve seen such kindness and such typical Irish begrudgery this last week. Hopefully those that survive will come out of this as nicer humans.

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    Mute Ashling Visser Bishop
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    Mar 20th 2020, 3:36 AM

    @LittleBee: WELL SAID.

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    Mute Alan Dillon
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    Mar 20th 2020, 11:24 AM

    @LittleBee: He’s a British passport holder and has contacted the British embassy. He’s not Irish and obviously doesn’t identify as such.

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    Mute Cormac Laffan
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:11 PM

    Few bowls of bat soup should sort him out.

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    Mute Galwaygogo
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    Mar 20th 2020, 2:35 AM

    Isn’t it ironic, a man who owns many homes sleeps in a van, while the many who own no home sleep in vehicles………. moral of the story, we are all worth the same in this world even when we think we aren’t.

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    Mute Moorooka Mick
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    Mar 20th 2020, 1:22 AM

    One unjust thing about this sinister virus is when it is “couriered” from overseas by the relatively rich and then transferred to older poor people who can scarcely make ends meet from pension day to pension day ( let alone afford to go overseas) and then when the result is fatal for them.

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    Mute LittleBee
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    Mar 20th 2020, 2:05 AM

    @Moorooka Mick: what are you on about. Are you actually suggesting old people dont travel. Do you know the average age of a cruise ship tourist, how much they cost and how many people were trapped at sea during this crisis?

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    Mute Dalya Al-Tulaihi
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    Mar 20th 2020, 2:11 AM

    @LittleBee: you’re really going off at everyone in the comment section. lol. :)

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    Mute LittleBee
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    Mar 20th 2020, 2:16 AM

    @Dalya Al-Tulaihi: pot kettle black

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    Mute Noel Patten
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:59 PM

    Hope they’re kept in isolation when they get to Ireland for the 2 weeks

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    Mute Fr Romeo sensini.
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    Mar 20th 2020, 12:51 AM

    @Noel Patten: by the sounds of things they’d be happy with that.an obvious chance has been taken and its backfired badly.i could think of worse places in Johannesburg to get some kip.

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    Mute Mirica
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:56 PM

    White men have always thought that rules don’t apply to them when they travel to the continent of Africa, why would now be any different.

    34
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    Mute Rocky Rocks
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    Mar 20th 2020, 12:22 AM

    @Mirica: and if they were black? Eejit.

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    Mute Rocky Rocks
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    Mar 20th 2020, 12:19 AM

    Can just imagine the woke outrage if this couple were black?

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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:39 PM

    Probably one of the worst places in the world go be stranded during a pandemic Johannesburg.
    Was watching BBC this morning some guy phoning from Cyprus saying he was stranded, probably a safer place to be…

    18
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    Mute Tricia G
    Favourite Tricia G
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    Mar 20th 2020, 9:58 AM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: Airside in an airport? Pretty sure he’s fine safety wise.

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    Mute Imagine !
    Favourite Imagine !
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:25 PM

    This virus has traversed the entire planet in 8 weeks so is very highly contagious. So complete avoidance of all human contact by staying at home is our only hope to slow it down. I think they call that a lockdown and many people are crying out or a lockdown. It’s my view that closing all non-essential shops is one step away from a lockdown. I would prefer people to be able to go for a walk or kick a ball in a park with their kids. I just don’t want them walking and stopping off for a take away or a coffee and muffin. Close non-essential shops ! Many of them have taken it upon themselves to close. Leave them open is giving the impression that this virus is not highly contagious when we now know it is.

    17
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    Mute Radek
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    Mar 20th 2020, 12:34 AM

    Ok sorry not special rules but they need help. Lets get them a B and B not be critical. You dont know what SA is like. Its very dangerous, these people need help. Can someone identify if they need money please.

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    Mute LittleBee
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    Mar 20th 2020, 1:07 AM

    @Radek: money is not the issue here

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    Mute Sean Ryan
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    Mar 20th 2020, 7:22 AM

    @Radek: did you read the article?

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    Mute Des Groome
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    Mar 20th 2020, 6:09 AM

    Boo hoo….
    First world problems.
    There are millions of people living like that in SA all the time who will never get to leave on a chartered flight.

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    Mute Barbara FitzGerald S
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    Mar 20th 2020, 1:38 AM

    Looks to me like fair consideration should be given to their journey Aerlingus and Ryanair have extended their flights until Saturday to try to get people home

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    Mute Philip McLoughlin
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    Mar 20th 2020, 4:47 AM

    Hi I think we might be getting this all wrong, Why don’t they “cocoon” everyone with an underlining condition now, and let everyone else try n ride this out for a couple of months, all I can see happening with the way we are doing things is going to prolong this indefinitely,

    7
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    Mute Tricia G
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    Mar 20th 2020, 9:54 AM

    @Philip McLoughlin: Why not both?

    And just because you don’t have an underlying condition doesn’t mean you’ll not be seriously affected, it just means your risk is lower. But by no means does it mean you might not end up in hospital.

    2
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    Mute Imagine !
    Favourite Imagine !
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:21 PM

    The experts have complained about false information on social media. They have also said that this virus is not as infectious as the flu. Really. They said you would need to be sitting beside someone coughing and spluttering for 5 or 6 minutes to get infected. They said transmission by touching a surface or your face is highly unlikely. Now given that we are all afraid of this virus globally nobody in their right mind would spend 5 minutes sitting beside someone coughing and spluttering so who is doing that. Yet it spreads. So, it’s my view given this virus has traversed the entire planet in 8 weeks that it is very highly contagious. So complete avoidance of all human contact by staying at home is our only hope to slow it down. I think they call that a lockdown. It’s my view that closing all non-essential shops is one step away from a lockdown. I would prefer people to be able to go for a walk or kick a ball in a park with their kids. I just don’t want them walking and stopping off for a coffee and muffin.

    7
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    Mute Thomas Harrington
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    Mar 20th 2020, 7:07 AM

    Should travel on an Irish passport!

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    Mute John O Donoghue
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    Mar 20th 2020, 3:42 AM

    There’s a lot more that should have been left stranded

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    Mute Gauthier D
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    Mar 20th 2020, 10:35 AM

    Someone who is unfortunate has something bad happen to them! In this case we’re all in. Stay all safe!

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    Mute Ann Nugent
    Favourite Ann Nugent
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    Mar 20th 2020, 12:32 AM

    Irish people look after own?

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    Mute Daniel Roche
    Favourite Daniel Roche
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    Mar 20th 2020, 12:49 AM

    @Ann Nugent: maybe he should of looked for Irish help.

    21
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    Mute Imagine !
    Favourite Imagine !
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:27 PM

    This virus has traversed the entire planet in 8 weeks so is very highly contagious. So complete avoidance of all human contact by staying at home is our only hope to slow it down. I think they call that a lockdown and many people are crying out for a lockdown. It’s my view that closing all non-essential shops is one step away from a lockdown. I would prefer people to be able to go for a walk or kick a ball in a park with their kids. I just don’t want them walking and stopping off for a take away or a coffee and muffin. Close non-essential shops ! Many of them have taken it upon themselves to close. Leaving them open is giving the impression that this virus is not highly contagious when we now know it is.

    3
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    Mute Imagine !
    Favourite Imagine !
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:26 PM

    This virus has traversed the entire planet in 8 weeks so is very highly contagious. So complete avoidance of all human contact by staying at home is our only hope to slow it down. I think they call that a lockdown and many people are crying out for a lockdown. It’s my view that closing all non-essential shops is one step away from a lockdown. I would prefer people to be able to go for a walk or kick a ball in a park with their kids. I just don’t want them walking and stopping off for a take away or a coffee and muffin. Close non-essential shops ! Many of them have taken it upon themselves to close. Leave them open is giving the impression that this virus is not highly contagious when we now know it is.

    2
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    Mute Con Cunningham
    Favourite Con Cunningham
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:49 PM

    @Imagine !: You can generally get away with posting a “stream of consciousness “ rant, which contains neither information nor conclusion, once. But to post the same rambling nonsense 4 times is the mark of an idiot.

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    Mute Dalya Al-Tulaihi
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:55 PM

    @Con Cunningham: it’s because when they post it says there’s an error in posting the comment, instead of hitting “cancel” and “return” they keep trying to “submit comment” which makes the comment post more than once. It’s a problem with the app, I have it too but gotten used to just submitting once and then going back.

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    Mute Con Cunningham
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    Mar 19th 2020, 11:58 PM

    @Dalya Al-Tulaihi: Yep, I get the same awful user experience , but in this case the post is modified each time, albeit slightly. Anyway, I tried to delete my post, it was a knee jerk, nasty post, been cooped up too long. I was wrong to play the player. But I can’t seem to cover up my crimes

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    Mute Dalya Al-Tulaihi
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    Mar 20th 2020, 12:04 AM

    @Con Cunningham: hahaha! Yeah unfortunately comments can’t be deleted once submitted. Ah don’t worry about it, there’ll be many more new headlines by the morning this comment won’t see the light of the day :D lol

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    Mute Christina Colling
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    Mar 20th 2020, 12:32 AM

    @Con Cunningham: I actually thought I was imagining that the same post kept popping up. Thought something was wrong with my phone

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    Mute Anne O Driscoll
    Favourite Anne O Driscoll
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    Mar 20th 2020, 2:33 PM

    Sorry can’t feel sorry for idiots that travel from their homes in times like this when the virus has been around for 3-months now that means 3 months warning for idiots even the self-important rich fat cats the virus don’t discriminate

    1
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