Gardaí have identified and deported 25 sex-offending non-Irish nationals in an operation which began last year. Operation Moonridge targets "highly dangerous" non-Irish nationals living in the state. "The operation involves identifying and locating convicted sex offenders of interest to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) for consideration for an EU Removal Order or deportation," the department of justice said. It involves information sharing between GNIB and a number of agencies, including the Garda National Protective Services Bureau, the Garda Sex Offenders Management Intelligence Unit (SOMIU) and the Department of Justice. Justice minister Jim O'Callaghan welcomed the progress of Operation Moonridge.

Source: Irish Examiner January 21, 2026 17:52 UTC