Friday 30 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 16107Landing in the State without proper documentation (Immigration Act 2004) · Co. Clare · 10 Sep 2024

Two Chinese nationals given suspended sentences over landing at Shannon Airport without passports

Two men, Lin Delin, aged 30, and Li Hu, aged 26 (one report says 36), who were described as Chinese nationals, were found hiding in toilets at Shannon Airport, Co Clare, in the early hours of 10 September 2024 after arriving on a Ryanair flight from Girona. On 10 September they were charged under section 11 of the Immigration Act 2004 with landing in the State without proper documentation, including a valid passport, and were remanded to Limerick prison. On 11 September they pleaded guilty at Ennis District Court, where Judge Alec Gabbett imposed a two-month suspended prison term on both men.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court10 Sep
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced11 Sep
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Lin Delin, a man aged 30, and Li Hu, a man aged 26 (one report says 36), were described as Chinese nationals who claimed that status.
  • The two men had no passports or other documentation after landing in the State.
Where
The two men were found hiding in toilets in the terminal arrivals area at Shannon Airport, Co Clare.
When
They were found in the early hours of 10 September 2024, after their flight landed shortly after 2am.
Cause
The two men had arrived on a Ryanair flight from Girona, Spain.
Investigation
A detective garda found one man in the ladies toilets and one man in the gents toilets.
Charges
They were charged on 10 September with landing in the State without proper documentation, including a valid passport, contrary to section 11 of the Immigration Act 2004.
In court
  • They were remanded to Limerick prison, and one report says the remand was made by Judge Gabbett at Kilrush District Court.
  • Their solicitor said they would plead guilty at Ennis District Court on Wednesday, and on 11 September they pleaded guilty before Judge Alec Gabbett.
Sentence
Judge Gabbett imposed a two-month suspended prison term on both men.
Other details
  • One of the men said he was claiming asylum when charged.
  • The two men denied that a Japanese passport recovered from the aircraft toilet was theirs.
  • The judge said there was nothing to show the men were who they claimed to be.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe two men were found hiding in toilets in the terminal at Shannon Airport. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe two men were found hiding in toilets at Shannon Airport. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThey were found in the early hours of the morning. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe offence took place at Shannon Airport on 10 September. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeThe two men had just arrived on a Ryanair flight from Girona, Spain. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationA detective found one man in the ladies toilets and one man in the gents toilets. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationA detective garda found the two men hiding in toilets in the airport arrivals area. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThey were charged with landing in the State without proper documentation, including a valid passport, contrary to section 11 of the Immigration Act 2004. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe two men pleaded guilty to landing in the State without proper documentation, including a valid passport, contrary to the Immigration Act 2004. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe solicitor said the men would plead guilty at Ennis District Court on Wednesday. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe judge remanded the two men to Limerick prison. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Ennis District Court before Judge Alec Gabbett. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe two men had been remanded by Judge Gabbett at Kilrush District Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Gabbett imposed a two-month suspended prison term on both men. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThey had arrived on a Ryanair flight from Girona that landed shortly after 2am. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe two men had no documentation. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherOne of the men said he was claiming asylum when charged. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe two men denied that a Japanese passport recovered from the aircraft toilet was theirs. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe judge said there was nothing to show the men were who they claimed to be. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe two men had no passports. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 11 Sep2024
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Two Chinese nationals found in Shannon Airport without passports given suspended sentences

    Reports the guilty pleas, the two-month suspended sentences and the court's remarks at Ennis District Court. Adds the remand at Kilrush District Court, the Ryanair flight from Girona, and the accommodation arrangements.

    convicted, Lin Delin, 30, male, Chinese, named, non-irishLin Delinconvicted, Li Hu, 36, male, Chinese, named, non-irishLi Hu
  2. 10 Sep2024
    In courtthejournal.ie, follow-up
    Two men charged with alleged immigration offences remanded in prison in Limerick

    Adds the charge and remand details: the two men were charged under section 11 of the Immigration Act 2004, remanded to Limerick prison, and due before Ennis District Court on Wednesday. It also reports that the men denied the Japanese passport found on the aircraft was theirs, that they were not seeking bail, and that the judge doubted their claimed identities. It does not cover the later sentencing.

    accused, Lin Delin, 30, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Lin Delinaccused, Li Hu, 26, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Li Hu