Navy ‘saviours’ to get big homecoming

Families are expected to crowd the quayside in Haulbowline next Friday to welcome home the 69-strong crew of LÉ Eithne after a rescue mission which saw them pluck 3,376 migrants from unseaworthy craft in the Mediterranean Sea.

The flagship left Malta yesterday and, depending on weather conditions, should be back home by next Friday morning.

In the meantime, LÉ Niamh — with 57 crew — left Haulbowline yesterday and was making her way out towards the operations area which lies between Sicily and the North African coast.