Department denies Liberian naval mission cancelled because of cost

THE Department of Defence and the Defence Forces have denied a claim that a Naval Service re-supply mission to the troops in Liberia was cancelled because it would have cost too much money.

Fine Gael defence spokesman Dinny McGinley said the LE Eithne was ready last week to leave Cork for the trip to West Africa and that parcels were collected from relatives of those serving in the war-ravaged country.

Deputy McGinley said it was cancelled without explanation, but believes it was because the Department of Defence would have to pay the full amount of the trip. The United Nations would pay the bill, if the re-supply was carried out by civilian air carriers.