Freedom of Information request into naval ship’s delayed migrant mission in Mediterranean Sea

A request under the Freedom of Information Act has been lodged with the Department of Defence in an attempt to establish why a Naval Service ship was delayed by more than three weeks from leaving her base to save migrants in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Naval Service flagship LÉ Eithne was scheduled to leave its base in Haulbowline Island on May 1, but didn’t depart until May 23.

On April 11, the Government sanctioned the dispatch of the vessel to participate in the humanitarian mission and the Naval Service informed government the ship would be ready to leave on May 1.