An officer on nightwatch aboard the navy flagship the L.E. Eithne has told a murder trial how he was alarmed to see a young sailor being washed away in the River Liffey a short time after he’d checked on him.

The captain of the Irish Navy flagship L.E. Eithne today insisted to a murder trial jury that the rescue procedures in place when a young sailor went overboard were carried out with speed and efficiency.

The captain of the Irish Navy flagship LE Eithne has denied that a young sailor who died after allegedly being assaulted and dropped from the side of the ship could not swim.

A 19-year-old naval mechanic has been remanded on bail on a charge of assault causing bodily harm following the death of a colleague on the LE Eithne two weeks ago.