Sinn Féin MLA Sinead Ennis has called for the demilitarisation of the Irish Sea.

Sinead Ennis was speaking after a report published today revealed that in 2018 a British nuclear submarine was just 250 yards from colliding with a ferry in the Irish Sea.

The South Down MLA said:

“Sinn Féin has been consistent in calling for an end to British military activity in Ireland, this applies to both land and sea. 

“Today the Marine Accident Investigations Branch has published a worrying report into a near-miss between a British nuclear submarine and ferry in the Irish Sea in 2018.

“The ferry was just 250 yards from the nuclear submarine when the ferry’s captain took an emergency course of action to avoid collision.

“The report found that the lives of the 282 passengers and staff on board the ferry were in ‘immediate danger’.

“It is extremely concerning that this is the third near collision in the last four years between Royal Navy submarines and other ships in the Irish Sea.

“The British Government and the British Ministry of Defence should end its submarine activity in the Irish Sea to avoid similar incidents in the future.”