LÉ Niamh bringing 225 migrants rescued from makeshift, rubber crafts to Sicily

The Irish Naval vessel the LÉ Niamh is bringing more than 220 people rescued in the Mediterranean to port this morning in Sicily.

Its crew attended the scene across the weekend as thousands of people continue to flee war-torn countries in the Middle East.

The refugees were found in two inflatable boats off the coast of Libya on Saturday night and the rescue brings to 1,997 the number saved by the LÉ Niamh to date.

Lieutenant Commander Caoimhín Mac Unfraidh said: "What she discovered was a 10 metre, makeshift, rubber craft with 107 migrants on board.

She rescued those migrants over a number of hours as darkness was falling and then she moved on to a second craft which had 118 migrants on board.

"So, in total the LÉ Niamh rescued 225 migrants."