Migrants found hidden in trailer at Wexford port

An investigation is under way after 14 migrants were found hidden in a trailer at a port in County Wexford.

The discovery was made at Rosslare Europort shortly after 03:00 local time on Monday when a vehicle was stopped as it exited a ferry from France.

The nine men, three women and two girls were assessed by medics and are understood to be in good health, Irish broadcaster RTÉ has reported.

The migrants, who are believed to be Kurdish and Vietnamese, have been taken to a processing centre.

Irish authorities were waiting when the ferry docked after one of the migrants made a distress call

Gardaí (Irish police) confirmed an investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made.

Padraig Byrne, a journalist with The Wexford People, told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme that the alarm was initially raised when UK authorities received a call at 01:00 GMT on Monday morning.

Mr Byrne said the call came from someone inside the container who said they were struggling to breathe.

The UK authorities then contacted the Irish authorities, who contacted the crew of the ship.

A search of the ship was carried out and the crew was able to locate the 14 people.

Gardaí and a number of ambulances were at Rosslare Europort when the ferry docked.

Mr Byrne said the number of incidents of people trying to enter Ireland through Rosslare Harbour was growing.

Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar said migrants who applied for asylum would have their applications processed as quickly as possible.

"Our first response is always a humanitarian one, to check that they are alive and in good health," Mr Varadkar said.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee said previous similar situations had led to deaths.

"This was an extremely hazardous undertaking and it is only fortuitous that the same did not happen yesterday," she added.