Irish naval missions in Med may be extended

The Defence Minister is preparing to extend the Irish Naval Service’s humanitarian mission in the Mediterranean beyond next month’s original deadline.

Simon Coveney made his comments yesterday as the LÉ Niamh rescued another 125 people — 92 men, 26 women and seven children — from a large inflatable rib some 115km north west of Tripoli at around noon Irish time yesterday.

The latest operation came almost a week after the ship’s crew saved 367 people from drowning after a fishing vessel with some 600 people on board capsized 110km north west of Tripoli. The ship brought the rescued — 342 men, 12 women and 13 children — and 25 bodies to Sicily last Thursday.