Lol! Micheál Martin tells reporters “We control our borders” on same day it’s revealed 88% of ‘asylum seekers’ cross NI border

Paul McRingo Political Correspondent

Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has revealed that “very close” to 88% of people seeking international protection are crossing the border from Northern Ireland before claiming asylum here.

Unfortunately for Taoiseach Micheál Martin, he wasn’t made aware that the numbers were being shared publicly back in Dublin as he told reporters in New York “We control our borders”. Lol!

The Taoiseach continued to tell bare-faced lies when he added “We don’t have open borders!” obviously knowing full well that we have an open border with Northern Ireland.

Speaking before the Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Migration, Minister Jim O’Callaghan said “They are coming from the United Kingdom, arriving into Northern Ireland and coming down claiming international protection in Ireland.”

He said using the common travel area in this way is “unlawful”. No shit Sherlock!

RTE News had the story on their app this morning, albeit buried down in 15th place in their list of headlines, just below a story about a missing cat in Leitrim.

It has since been removed and RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst issued an apology to the Taoiseach, saying “It is not RTE policy to expose government lies and I can assure the Taoiseach that publishing that story was an accident and the staff member responsible has been disciplined and sent for retraining. I trust we’re still okay for the €240 million government handout?”