Seventy-one non-nationals have been deported from Dublin Airport on flights bound for eastern Europe.
The 51 men and 20 women were rounded up yesterday before being sent back to Romania and Moldova late last night. It is not known if any of those were children.
The night time deportation, which was organised out of Blanchardstown Garda station, has been criticised by a number of refugee welfare groups.
A Garda spokesman said that the timing was to "facilitate as early an arrival as possible in the home country of those deported".
The plane was scheduled to travel to Bucharest and then carry on to Chisnau in Moldova.
Figures from the Irish Refugee Council revealed 2,145 foreign nationals have been deported from Ireland since 1999. A total 476 people have been forced to leave the State this year.
