A baby girl has been born on board an Irish naval vessel tasked with rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean.
The infant, named Destiny was born Tuesday, July 21 afternoon after her mother Grace was brought on board the LÉ Niamh four hours earlier.
The mother, from Nigeria, had been among 114 people, including 62 women, 45 men and seven children, earlier transferred from the Médecins Sans Frontiéres vessel the MV Dignity. Fourteen of the women were pregnant.
Four hours after the transfer, Grace went into labour and was assisted by army medics Paul O’Connell and Conor Kilbride.
Baby Destiny, who was four weeks premature, was delivered at 5.46pm after a labour that lasted just over an hour. The baby, who is still receiving postnatal treatment, is said to be doing well.
By Pita Ochai
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