A NAVY seaman had to undergo emergency surgery after a fellow crew member allegedly bit his private parts during a savage fight on the deck of one of the country’s main patrol vessels.

The assault occurred earlier this week as the LÉ James Joyce ship was anchored in Co. Cork and MEPs landed here ahead of Ireland assuming the EU Presidency.

It is the third embarrassing incident in as many months involving a member of the Defence Forces and has renewed questions about the State’s ability to provide adequate protection for EU leaders.

The assault occurred in the early hours of the morning on the deck of the 90-metre vessel, as many of the LÉ James Joyce crew slept.

It is believed the alleged victim and the alleged perpetrator had been drinking for several hours before a row broke out.

This culminated in a physical fight in which one of the seamen attempted to bite the other crew member’s testicle when he became caught in a chokehold.

A source said: ‘The two boys went up to the aft deck at four in the morning and no-one was there. The duty-watch were in bed and the rest of them were cleaning or whatever… one of them decided he’d lock onto his b****, grabbed it into his mouth and bit down on it.’

Another military source said the victim ‘had to be removed from the ship so he could get appropriate medical attention’.

They added the seaman ‘needed surgery’ but that ‘he is now in a stable condition’.

The source said the incident has caused further embarrassment to the Defence Forces following a number of recent controversies.

They told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘People within the Defence Forces are talking about this and laughing about this. It’s like this kind of behaviour has become so normalised that there is no surprise that this happened.

‘But when you look at what happened here it shows the Defence Forces is in free fall and there is a major decline in the behaviour of some people serving.’

The Defence Forces last night confirmed it is investigating.

A spokesman said: ‘Óglaigh na hÉireann does not condone any form of inappropriate behaviour and Military Police are currently investigating the matter.

‘As this investigation is now ongoing, we will be providing no further comment.’

It represents the third embarrassing incident involving a member of the Defence Forces in as many months.

In April, the MoS reported on two suspected drugs-related incidents at the designated security hub for European leaders during Ireland’s six-month Presidency of the EU.

The incidents, at Air Corps Casement Aerodrome headquarters in Baldonnel, occurred within five days of one another.

In the first incident, a non-commissioned Air Corps airman – the equivalent of an Army private – was found wandering around the Baldonnel airbase in a ‘very confused’ state soon after gardaí spotted him being handed a suspected drugs package through a perimeter fence shortly after midnight on Tuesday, April 14.

The second occurred five days later, after a passing out ceremony held at Baldonnel.

Sources said that a young Army officer allegedly attacked a young female Air Corps recruit with a wine bottle, before assaulting a male colleague who tried to come to the woman’s aid.

It is understood the young officer was in full ceremonial uniform at the time, however when he was arrested, he was not wearing any shoes or socks.

The Irish Naval Services has eight ships in its fleet but just four of these are available to patrol the Irish coastline.

And because of chronic staff shortages, only two can be operational at sea at a given time. As a result, Ireland depends on the support of France, Britain and Norway to patrol its waters.

The LÉ James Joyce was the first navy ship to be named after an actual person as opposed to a mythical Irish character.

In 2016, its 44-member crew was deployed to rescue migrants in the Mediterranean, and they were later honoured with International Service medals for their humanitarian work.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the vessel was used as a community testing centre.

valerie.hanley@mailonsunday.ie