Ferry passengers kept in the dark as docking crisis erupted

PASSENGERS travelling from France to Ireland with Irish Ferries were not told the ship might face difficulties docking because of a worsening dispute between management and workers.

Dubliner Mark Penny, who boarded the ferry in Cherbourg on Saturday night with his partner Sophaly and their two children, four-year-old Sammy and nine-month-old daughter Andelys, said staff denied there were any problems.

The ship was due to dock in Rosslare last evening but SIPTU workers at the port refused to handle the ship as it berthed and, at the last minute, it was diverted to Dublin, where it landed last night.