A Nigerian father-of-four who was jailed for four years for trafficking illegal immigrants into Ireland has lost his appeal against his conviction.

This was the first case of human trafficking to come before the Circuit Criminal Court.

Olaitan Ilori, with an address in Oak Drive, Blessington, Co Wicklow, was found guilty of 12 counts of organising or knowingly facilitating the entry into the State in October 2004 of 12 adult Mauritian nationals.

His lawyers appealed the conviction, but today, the Court of Criminal Appeal rejected the ground put forward that Mr Ilori was unlawfully detained at Dublin Airport.

It also found that the customs and excise officer in question was within his rights to examine Mr Ilori's luggage.