Two men seeking protection told they were free to leave Dublin hotel

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Two men seeking international protection in Ireland were free to leave a Dublin hotel, the High Court heard. State lawyers said they were not detained there; they had been placed in quarantine for five days and remained longer because asylum accommodation centres were full.

The men disputed the State’s account. They claimed they had been confined to their room after being taken to the hotel on November 30, and sought a High Court inquiry into the legality of their alleged detention. Their lawyer welcomed the statement that they could leave but said they did not accept the State’s version of events.

The court was told the matter would be mentioned later that month.