The LÉ William Butler Yeats has recovered three people from the water during a rescue operation in the Mediterranean.
The ship assisted in operations following a request from the Italian Maritime Rescue Co-Ordination Centre.
The LÉ William Butler Yeats located and rescued 285 migrants from two rubber vessels during two search and rescue operations 44 kilometres north-west of Tripoli.
The Defence Forces say during the course of the second operation, three people were declared dead.
Image: Flickr/Irish Defence Forces
Their bodies are onboard the Irish vessel.
The first operation began at 10:12am and 146 migrants were taken onboard by 12:28pm.
The second rescue operation started at 1:39pm and 139 migrants - plus the three deceased - were onboard by 3:25pm.
The migrants are now receiving food, water and medical treatment where required.
The LÉ William Butler Yeats remains in the area, awaiting further direction from the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre.