Irish Eyes Smile on Five U.S. Sailors; Now They’re in Brig

Five sailors have been jailed for allegedly helping a teen-age Irish girl stow away on a U.S. destroyer and travel from Ireland to the United States, Navy officials said today.

Archie Galloway, deputy public affairs officer with the Navy’s Atlantic Fleet, said the girl was “dehydrated and sick” when she was found at sea on the 10th day of her journey from Cobh, Ireland, and was taken to Portsmouth Naval Hospital after the destroyer Conyngham docked in Norfolk, Va., Saturday.

Police in Dublin identified the girl as Suzanne Twomey, 15, from the port city of Cork. They said she has run away several times previously and once had to be brought home from Spain. Her parents had no comment.

The girl spent 10 days inside a small passage aboard the ship. The passage, 2 1/2 feet wide and 15 feet long, houses electrical cables. Some sailors apparently brought the girl food and water during the trip, the Navy said.

She reportedly told officials she was orphaned at the age of 13 and wanted to come to the United States to get a job.

The girl was at a hospital in Raleigh, N.C., today after she became sick while flying from National Airport in Washington, D.C., to Atlanta for a flight to Ireland, Galloway said.

Lloyd said the five enlisted men have not had specific charges placed against them but they are being held in jail pending hearings.