Ferry finds port in a storm as union relents

IRISH Ferries was accused of using its passengers as “human shields” last night after SIPTU workers relented and allowed the company to dock its vessel, the MV Normandy, at Dublin Port on “humanitarian grounds”.

Despite the workers making clear they would not handle the ship, the Normandy set sail from the French port of Cherbourg for Rosslare on Saturday night with more than 100 passengers on board, including a nine-week-old baby.

Iarnród Éireann, which operates Rosslare, told the company that because of health and safety concerns caused by the workers’ stance, the docking of the Normandy could not be facilitated at the port.