LE EITHNE

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Burglar got into naval base and burgled patrol vessel

The Irish Defence Forces have launched an investigation after a burglar breached security at the Haulbowline Naval Service base and burgled the 'LE Eithne'. Investigators from the Military Police have launched a probe. At least one burglar got access to the tied up patrol vessel and went through the ship stealing what they could. The thief swiped personal items belonging to crew members including dirty laundry and even a set of medals. They also took a bottle of whiskey from a cupboard in a wardroom of the 'LE Eithne' which has been tied up at the base for several months because of personnel shortages. Officers were now trying to establish how many people were involved in the incident.

Patrol boat saved 712 migrants

The "LÉ Eithne" saved 712 migrants off the coast of Tripoli as part of an international migrant-rescue effort on june 25. The ship led the rescue of multiple vessels in distress 40 km north-west of Tripoli throughout the day. Six migrants, including one baby, were revived from states of unconsciousness. The ship transported the people, including 14 pregnant women and four infants below the age of four months, to Catania to be handed over to Italian authorities. All lives were saved, no lives were lost. It was a complex operation where lives were at stake at every turn over a full eight-hour period.

Patrol ship took 703 migrants to Catania

A baby was born on the "LÉ Eithne" in the night of June 16, 2017, after her mother and over 700 other migrants were rescued from a series of vessels off the Libyan coast. Defence Force medics delivered the baby on board the ship , having rescued 703 migrants attempting to sail to Europe. Both the mother and child weree healthy and well. The vessel arrived at the scene in the afternoon, where they rescued migrants from five inflatable boats, before mounting a large-scale operation to rescue people from three NGO ships and ten “platforms in distress. The migrants were taken to Catania, where they will be handed over to the Italian Authorities. The Irish Defence Forces first deployed the "LÉ Eithne", to the Mediterranean on May 23 as part of the Government’s response to the migrant crisis.