Families of men who died at sea hear evidence of boat owner
Inquiry begins into sinking of the solway harvester
Published:
Relatives of seven men who died when their fishing vessel sank more than eight years ago came face-to-face with the boat’s owner yesterday after he was ordered to attend an inquiry.
Richard Gidney, who owned the Solway Harvester, was summoned to give evidence at Kirkcudbright Sheriff Court after he refused to attend an inquest on the Isle of Man.
The 43-year-old went on trial in 2005, accused of manslaughter in relation to the sinking in January 2000, but he was acquitted when a judge ruled there was no case to answer.
Yesterday, around 20 relatives of the fishermen were in court to hear what he had to say.
One woman fled in tears when footage of the boat and its crew at work was shown.
Mr Gidney faced questioning from Andrew Smith QC, acting on behalf of Isle of Man coroner Michael Moyle.
When pressed on why he had not previously given evidence, Mr Gidney said he had been acting on legal advice and added: “I feel that people are out to put all the blame on me.”
The inquiry heard that the Solway Harvester had flooded on several occasions in the years before she went down.
Mr Gidney said he had not been told about the incidents at the time.
The inquiry also heard that the boat last had a full safety check in 1996.
The Solway Harvester sank off the Isle of Man on January 11, 2000, with the loss of all seven crew on the Kirkcudbright-based dredger.
Skipper Craig Mills, 29, and crewmen Robin Mills, 33, David Mills, 17, Martin Milligan, 26, John Murphy, 22, David Lyons, 18, and Wesley Jolly, 17, lost their lives.
They all came from near the village of Isle of Whithorn, in Dumfries and Galloway.
Mr Gidney went on to deny accusations of “insensitivity”. He agreed he was involved in a plan to have a boat called the Solway Ranger travel to the area where the Harvester went down, some days after it sank.
Mr Smith suggested the boat could have brought up one of the bodies of the men from the Harvester and suggested the move was “hugely insensitive”.
Mr Gidney insisted: “I don’t think it was insensitive.”
He said there was a time when the Solway Harvester had sailed without a UK fishing vessel certificate – something he admitted was illegal. But he insisted the authorities were aware of the situation and said he was just waiting for a new certificate to be issued.
The inquiry heard that prosecutors had no intention of bringing any further criminal proceedings against Mr Gidney.
Alex Currie, a church minister who is acting as spokesman for the families, said they were “happy” that Mr Gidney’s evidence was under way.
The hearing, before Sheriff Principal Brian Lockhart, continues today.
Readers' Comments