Images taken by a European Union satellite last week shortly before the sighting of five rogue drones in Dublin Bay show the nearby presence of a “dark vessel”, which appeared to be trying to hide its location. Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has said the drones “were for the purpose of putting pressure on EU and Ukrainian interests”. Zelensky Photograph: Alan Betson / The Irish TimesGiven their location, there are strong suspicions the drones were launched from a ship in the Irish Sea rather than from land. The presence of the unidentified ship shortly before the incident is a vital clue for investigators from An Garda Síochána’s Special Detective Unit, the section investigating the drones incident. Taoiseach Micheál Martin told the Dáil on Wednesday the presence of the drones was a “very concerning incident” similar to incidents in other EU states.

Source: The Irish Times December 11, 2025 10:32 UTC