Swansea Cork Ferries 'forbids' injections on ships

Ferry company: Swansea Cork Ferries said it has "absolutely forbidden" any stem-cell procedures being preformed on board its vessels.

The ferry company said it became aware Advanced Cell Therapeutics (ACT) was planning to administer stem-cell injections on its ships this week from a notice in the ACT newsletter and after patients attempted to book in for the service.

A spokesman for Swansea Cork Ferries said its permission had not been sought for the procedures to be held on board and it was "quite outraged" that ACT would attempt to use its ships for its clinics.

"No procedures will be carried out on board Swansea Cork Ferries. We have absolutely forbidden and prohibited it. We are quite outraged this service is being offered without any reference to the company."

A number of people had tried to book the stem-cell clinic sessions through the company, the spokesman said, but their bookings had been refused.

"It is quite outrageous that somebody would try to circumvent the law at the moment by carrying out these procedures in international waters."

Swansea Cork Ferries was aware that Dr John Dunphy was under investigation by the medical council for administering stem-cell injections at his Carrigaline, Co Cork clinic. "We have informed Dr Dunphy that under no circumstances is he entitled to carry out procedures on board," the spokesman said.