LÉ Aisling (P23)

LÉ "Aisling" (P23) is a ship in the Irish Naval Service. The ship was named Aisling to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Patrick Pearse.

"Aisling" was one of the first ships to arrive on the scene of the Air India Flight 182 disaster, and participated in recovery operations. [http://www.flight182.com/part1chap5.htm]

onia incident

In 1984 LÉ "Aisling" was involved an international incident with a Spanish fishing trawler called "Sonia". "Aisling" came across "Sonia" illegally fishing in Irish waters south of the Saltee Islands. "Sonia" quickly retrieved its gear before "Aisling" could send a boarding party. When "Sonia" got underway she would have hit "Aisling" Aimidships had the Patrol Vessels engines not been put full astern. As it was, "Sonia" missed the PV by 10 feet, a minuscule margin with a gale whipping up a nasty sea. According to the Captain the heavy trawlers hull would have sliced "Aisling"'s thin plating.

The episode continued with "Aisling" giving chase and firing warning shots. "Sonia" turned towards on "Aisling" numerious times causing the latter to take evasive action. The Spaniards action could only be described as reckless. After five hours pursuing the "Sonia" the captain of the "Aisling" was ordered to break off as she was entering British waters.

When "Aisling" returned to its base in Haulbowline, Cobh that evening, news was feed back that "Sonia" sank due to sea conditions and both a German Freighter and RAF Brawdy a sea king helicopter had rescued the 13 crewmen.

The Spanairds denied that any attempt had been made to ram "Aisling" and accused the Naval Service of causing their Ship to sink by riddling it with gunfire. The Irish Government would have none of it, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Peter Barry, TD, made that plain to his Spanish Opposite number who happened to be in Luxemburg negotiating Spain’s entry to the ECC.

Marita Ann

During September 1984, the naval service was involved in the arrest of the Marita Ann of the South west coast of Ireland. It involved a large cargo of arms and ammunition consigned to the IRA. LE Emer, LE Aisling and LE Deirdre had to maintain a discreet distance until the Arms entered the Irish territorial waters. On this occasion, however the contraband came from the United States of America and was ferried across the Atlantic by a fishing trawler, the Valhalla. She did not approach the Irish coast, but transferred her illicit cargo to the Marita Ann well outside Irish waters.

The 28th September was an opportune day, as it was the last day of the Listowel Racing festival, a big date in Kerry. The perpetrators were not to know that the intelligence services had got wind of the plot; that the Valhalla’ voyage had been monitored by international agencies, and that the naval service had begun to lay a trap as soon as the Marita Ann had sailed from Dingle to keep her appointment, Aisling (Lt Cdr J.Robinson) and Emer left Haulbowline in the company, with Gardai on board both vessels.

The Marita Ann’s course was plotted and by midnight it was 1,800 yards into territorial waters. Emer made full speed intercept and when half a mile off the target called on her to stop. All the usual signals were ignored, and the vessel, which when illuminated by Emer’s searchlights was revealed as Marita Ann, altered course. She had, however no hope of outrunning Emer, or indeed Aisling which had moved into a position to prevent a breakout. After four rounds of tracer had been put across her bows, Marita Ann gave up two miles inside the limit. The Naval Service/Garda boarding party meet no resistance, and found five men and a large quantity of ammunition and arms on board.

Two men, Martin Ferris and Gavin Mortimer were taken on board the Emer, John P. Crawley and John Mc Carthy were transferred to the Aisling and Michael browne, at 42 the eldest of the party, remained on the Marita Ann, which was taken by tow by Aisling as the convey, escorted by LE Deirdre made its way to Haulbowline,Cobh where a large gathering of the international media awaited its arrival.

External links

* [http://www.military.ie/naval/flotilla/p23/aisling.htm IDF LÉ "Aisling" webpage]

http://www.rte.ie/tv/scannal/scannalbostonenglish.html