One of the Special Olympics coaches who failed to show up in Dublin Airport for their flights home yesterday has been found.
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Mr Khalid Ahmed (31) from Sudan made himself known to gardaí today and will be returning home tomorrow.
One other coach, Mr Mohammed Idreaf Khan (24), from Pakistan, has not been found, along with four male athletes from the west African state of Niger. These athletes left their luggage behind in their Dublin hotel when they went out for the day on Sunday and have not been seen since.
Insp Martin McGonnell from Donnybrook Garda Station said he could not speculate about whether the men would seek asylum here as refugees fleeing persecution.
If they did so, the authorities would be obliged to allow them to live in the State while their applications were processed. "Our main concern is that they are safe and well," he said.
The four missing Niger men are Mr Abdoulaye Sekouba (37), team coach, who was last seen wearing a red, green and yellow jumper and jeans; Mr Mamoudou Alassane (28), wearing a black top; Mr Ballo I. Bakol Issa (25), in a light blue shirt and jeans; and Mr Yacouba Hamadou (21), wearing a black top.
Gardaí have not put out an appeal for the two missing coaches, as they do not have special needs.