A Romanian woman gave birth on board a ferry early today - just hours after being refused entry to Ireland.
Officials in Dublin were investigating the incident, but the mother and her new-born daughter were both said to be well after a doctor was airlifted to the Irish Ferries vessel Normandyby a Royal Navy helicopter from Cornwall.
Lawyers in Dublin today raised the question of the baby's citizenship as she was born at sea on board an Irish-registered vessel. But there was no immediate confirmation that the child was entitled to be classed as Irish.
The woman went into labour at about midnight on board the 27,000 tonne ferry, which was en route from Rosslare, County Wexford, to the French port of Roscoff.
The mother, who was reported to be Romanian, gave birth at 12.30 a.m. She and the baby were treated by a nurse who was a passenger on the ship.
Today the ferry docked in Roscoff after an 18-hour voyage, and it was understood that a man travelling with the woman was detained by police there.
The woman was one of six people turned back by the authorities when they arrived in Rosslare yesterday, but immigration police in Rosslare were not aware that she was heavily pregnant.
An officer in Rosslare said two of the six people who were refused entry under the terms of the Irish Immigration Act had previously tried to enter the country before with false passports.
Irish Ferries spokesman Mr Don Hall reported: "I understand the woman was travelling with her husband and one child.
"They left Rosslare last evening around 7pm, and my understanding is that they had come in yesterday morning.
"They were assigned a cabin and at around midnight last night at a point off Lands End, the lady began to deliver a baby.
"The matter was taken in hand by the chief purser and the senior stewardess on the ferry. We put out a call, as we normally would in these circumstances to see if there was a doctor or a nurse on board.
"The nurse, who was on her way to a holiday, assisted with members of the crew in the birth of the baby.
"Everything was fine, but the captain thought that as a precaution a doctor should be called.
"The mother and her baby were found to be in fine fettle, and the doctor praised those who had attended the birth."
Mr Hall said there would have been reservations about letting the woman on board if it had been realised that she was so heavily pregnant.
He added: "Everyone was surprised by this development. "But our staff do take advanced training in medical matters and I am delighted that in this case that training paid off so well."
PA