WATCH: Joy mixed with regret for LÉ James Joyce crew on return from Mediterranean
The Naval Service crew beamed with pride yesterday as they disembarked at their home base after rescuing 2,697 migrants, but it was obvious they’re also harbouring harrowing memories of being too late to save 21 people, including a heavily pregnant woman and her unborn child.
The joyous scenes as the sailors were reunited with their families mask some of the horrors they will probably never forget.
Army medic, Sergeant Refellia Donovan, along with two other medics, was in the forefront of the operation.
She treated “terrified and traumatised” migrants once they boarded the ship: “Many had wounds because they were crushed against screws in the craft they were on. A lot of people had infected wounds. One guy had a gunshot wound.”
She said it’s possible the heavily pregnant woman suffocated in a crush, or was overcome by petrol fumes. The medic also described how she helped look after small babies, some just two weeks old.
One good news story involved a woman who went into labour just after being rescued — she gave birth to a girl “named Joyce, after our ship,” Sgt Donovan said.
Lieutenant Commander Neil Manning, who captained the ship, said his crew experienced some difficult times, especially when they found 16 people, including a teenage boy, dead in a barge.
“It’s toughest on those [crew] who have children. You think how lucky your family are at home. But you have to remain focused and I spoke to the guys after and reminded them that they’d also saved 450 people that day.
“We also had five people onboard who are trained in critical support management and there’s also lots of peer support on the ship,” the senior officer said.
He said he had no doubt many vessels they encountered would have sunk before reaching port: “It’s very hard to see people being exploited like this.”
The captain noted that a small number of those rescued were suspected of being people smugglers and this was pointed out to Italian authorities when the crew handed them over.
But yesterday the sad scenes the 59-strong crew witnessed were at least temporarily set aside as they were reunited with their families after their three-month mission.
The crew were greeted on arrival by minister with responsibility for defence Paul Kehoe who said he had the privilege of meeting them earlier this month while they were re-equipping in Italy: “I was glad to hear your experiences of the important work you are undertaking on behalf of the people of Ireland. You can now look forward to enjoying some well-deserved time off from your duties.
“ To date, Irish participation has resulted in the recovery of over 12,500 migrants, which clearly demonstrates the value of Ireland’s involvement in this important humanitarian response.”
LÉ James Joyce has been replaced on the mission by LÉ Samuel Beckett, currently off the coast of Libya.
Seaman and sweetheart to wed
For three months he thought about popping the question, readily admitting that “absence makes the heart grow fonder”.
So, when Able Seaman Dean Babington, 24, disembarked from LÉ James Joyce after its mission to rescue migrants, the first thing he did was get down on bended knee and ask his sweetheart and mother of his child to marry him.
“On my God, oh my God,” replied Niamh Cox, 21, crying tears of joy.
“I’m absolutely shocked. I’m absolutely delighted. I’m absolutely in love with him,” she said after accepting the proposal and having a glittering ring placed on her finger.
The couple, who are both from the northside of Cork City, hugged and kissed to loud applause from other navy families who had gathered to welcome loved ones home.
However, it all seemed to go over the head of their 18-month-old son, Jake, who didn’t appear to know what all the fuss was about.
