Three Ghanaian fishermen allegedly rescued from a Co Down-based boat had been put to work in UK waters beneath a deception, the Excessive Court docket has heard.
Lawyers for the migrants claimed they had been allowed into Northern Eire on the pretence of offering labour internationally.
The trio, who can't be recognized, are difficult the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) for refusing to cost the homeowners and skippers of the vessel with trafficking and trendy slavery offences.
It's believed to be the primary case of its form within the jurisdiction.
The boys are understood to have travelled from Ghana to Northern Eire in 2011 to work as deckhands on one of many ships based mostly at Kilkeel Harbour.
However later that 12 months they had been taken from the vessel and recognized as victims of trafficking, in keeping with their authorized representatives.
The courtroom heard the boys had been given clearance to work on the ship for fishing voyages in worldwide waters, with strict limitations on any shore go away in Northern Eire.
However Dessie Hutton QC argued that the boat had solely operated between Kilkeel and Scotland.
“These are journey or immigration paperwork which were procured beneath a lie,” he claimed.
“This deception was key to having the candidates transited to Northern Eire for the needs of offering labour.”
In 2019 the PPS determined to not prosecute the boat’s homeowners, a willpower upheld following a assessment a 12 months later.
Granted anonymity because of their vulnerability, the fishermen declare that consequence was irrational, procedurally unfair and did not bear in mind all obtainable legislative powers.
With two of them nonetheless in Northern Eire, they face a possible risk of deportation if their authorized problem in the end fails.
A full listening to because of start was put again amid makes an attempt to safe discovery of extra paperwork associated to the PPS resolution.
Lord Justice Treacy as an alternative adjourned proceedings till November.
Outdoors courtroom the fishermen’s solicitor, Sinead Marmion of Phoenix Regulation, claimed: “It is a important case for our shoppers who've suffered horrendous therapy by the hands of their employer, which has amounted in them being recognised as victims of recent slavery.
“We consider the failure by the PPS to prosecute those that handled our shoppers as slaves falls nicely wanting the authorized customary required.”