Fitzgerald defends deportation of suspected Islamic extremists

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has defended the deportation of foreign nationals suspected of supporting Islamic extremism even if there is not enough evidence for a criminal prosecution.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Irish Independent today, Ms Fitzgerald said the State had a right to protect its citizens.

She said Irish authorities are keeping tabs on “a limited number” of suspected extremists and she would “make no apology” for deporting individuals where intelligence supported they did support extremism.

According to Ms Fitzgerald, such deportations are justified in order to protect Irish citizens.

The comments come weeks after the High Court ruled a man deemed a national security threat could be deported to Jordan.

That decision was criticised by Amnesty International, who said it sent a “deeply worrying signal about the Irish authorities’ attitude towards the absolute prohibition against torture”.

Colm O’Gorman, executive director of Amnesty International Ireland, said at the time: “It’s a very bad day for human rights when a government tries to send someone back to a country they know he will almost certainly be tortured in.”