It's noisy as hull

Residents rage at €100k a week drug ship stuck in their harbour

- BY JOHN KIERANS

THE people of a harbour village are sick to the teeth of looking at a big steel monster every day - the notorious drug ship the MV Matthew that is costing the State €100,000 a week to store and maintain.

Passage West in Cork harbour has become home to the big bulk vessel for the past few months and there is no sign of it moving any time soon.

Locals complain that they can't sleep at night, such is the “weird sounds and noise” that come from the ship after dark and some even fear it is haunted.

One man said: “They have to keep the power on 24/7 to keep it afloat otherwise God knows what might happen. But it makes all sorts of funny noises especially at night and people say they can't sleep with the racket.

“Some even believe there is a ghost onboard but I wouldn't believe a word of that. Everyone around here has an opinion and are sick and tired of the sight of it.