LÉ Eithne: Rescued migrants due in Italy

Irish Naval vessel the LÉ Eithne is expected to dock in a port in Italy today with the 399 people saved from the Mediterranean in its latest rescue operation in the area.

Early on Saturday morning, 310 migrants were taken onto the LÉ Eithne from a barge that was in difficulty, and later the same day another 89 people were rescued as they floated dangerously on two inflatable craft.

In total, 280 men, 78 women, and 41 children were brought on board across the two operations.

Since the LÉ Eithne left Haulbowline in Cork on May 16 to participate in fresh efforts by the EU to end the soaring number of migrant deaths in the Mediterranean sea, it has rescued 1,064 people in seven operations.

READ MORE: VIDEO: Navy officer tells of migrants’ rescue in Med

A spokesman for the Defence Forces said the vessel was able to accommodate up to 500 people and that the rescued migrants are likely to be handed over to Italian authorities in Taranto this morning. The LÉ Eithne’s term working in the Mediterranean is due to last 10 weeks.

LÉ EITHNE Sailing Towards Taranto, Italy with 399 Rescuees On Board ETA 8am Local 08 June 2015 #DefendProtectSupport pic.twitter.com/O4QvcP8vX8

— Óglaigh na hÉireann (@defenceforces) June 7, 2015

However, while the crew on board await instruction from the Italian Maritime Rescue Co-Ordination Centre, the Defence Forces had to tell followers on its Facebook page that the site was a politics-free zone after some people made comments critical of the migrants seeking to cross into Europe.

The majority of those commenting on the page congratulated the work of the LÉ Eithne, with some saying the humanitarian efforts made them “proud to be Irish”.

However, several people posted strongly worded comments vehemently disagreeing with the intervention. One man alleged the Irish naval vessel was “facilitating illegal immigration”.

Another said: “These people have absolutely no right to simply pour into Europe,” while another individual suggested: “Pick them up and bring them back to Libya.”

Stark figures for rescues by @defenceforces #LEEithne in the Med http://t.co/Lptn5EMYbT pic.twitter.com/PUOlgbkIa2

— Philip Bromwell (@philipbromwell) June 7, 2015

The flood of comments forced the Irish Defence Forces’ social media moderator to remind people of its Facebook code.

Meanwhile, eight people had to be rescued in three separate incidents on Lough Derg in Co Clare over the weekend.

The first incident, on Friday night, involved two men who got into difficulty in strong winds and rough water close to Two Mile Gate shore. Later the same day, a 23ft cruise vessel ran aground with two people on board. On Saturday evening, a 38ft cruiser with four people on board ran aground in Tinerana Bay.