Two Dutch sisters jailed for trying to import cocaine into Northern Ireland have lost their legal bid to overturn a decision to have them deported.
Siegnerella Elaine Flaneur, 23, and Siegnette Elaine Flaneur, 27, were seeking a judicial review of the move.
They were arrested in April 2008 in connection with the attempted importation of 136 grammes of the drug.
Both pleaded guilty. Siegnette was jailed for three years and Siegnerella was sentenced to 30 months.
The decision to deport them was set out in letters which concluded that they committed the crime for money and would re-offend for the same reason.
'Breach'
Following their release, they challenged the decision on the basis that it contravened their right to freedom of travel within the European Union.
It was also claimed the order was in breach of Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006.
Lawyers for the women argued there was no evidence available to the home secretary that either of them posed a present threat of re-offending or risk of harm to others.
They also claimed the deportation decisions were based on the view taken of the seriousness of the offence committed in April 2008, and not the threat posed on their release in the summer of 2009.
Dismissing their applications for a judicial review, Mr Justice Treacy said: "Whilst the risk of re-offending may have been assessed as low, the harm that would arise, if the threat crystallised, was so serious it was not considered reasonable to leave the public vulnerable to the effects of their re-offending.
"Given the pernicious effects of the importation and use of Class A drugs which devastate individuals and communities, the assessment that the public should not be left vulnerable to the consequences of their re-offending was plainly justified in the public interest.
"That judgment, in my view, is unimpeachable."
