Eight migrants found hiding in a cargo ship at Belview Port have been deported.
The discovery was made yesterday evening by the crew on a ship travelling to Ireland from France.
All eight are believed to be adult men from Eastern Europe.
And gardai confirmed this evening that all eight migrants have been deported to the French city of Cherbourg.
A garda spokeswoman said: "Today the 8 males discovered in hiding on a bulk cargo ship travelling from France to Ireland have been deported from this jurisdiction to the last country of origination.
"Following an assessment of their immigration status carried out during the day by Garda Immigration Officers attached to Waterford Garda Station assisted by the Garda National Immigration Bureau all 8 males were refused 'leave to land' in this jurisdiction.
"All eight males were deported, under Garda escort, on a ferry destined for Cherbourg which departed from Rosslare at 8:30pm.
"An Garda Síochána has no further comment."
