03/06/2009

Arrest Follows Ferry Theft

A lifeboat crew was yesterday rammed after they tried to stop a stolen ferry boat.

The vessel was taken in the early hours of Tuesday morning from the pier at Arranmore Island - three miles off Co Donegal and then beached on the mainland.

A man was being quizzed by Gardaí on Tuesday night after the small passenger ferry was stolen off the north-west coast.

According to reports, the vessel - owned by Arranmore Charters which runs the fast ferry service to one the Donegal island - was badly damaged ship when it was recovered on a beach.

Its fibreglass hull had been ripped and other damage caused. It will be out of action for some time.

Police said the man in custody was arrested at Burtonport, on the mainland, and was being held at Glenties Garda Station.

The ferry company, based on Arranmore, has been operating since June 2007 and introduced the fast ferry, which cruises at 30 knots.

It covers the three mile journey from Burtonport in Co Donegal to the island in just over five minutes and holds up to 12 passengers.

The lifeboat crew was rammed after they took to the water in a dinghy to try and stop the boat.

(BMcC/JM)

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