A criminal investigation has been launched into the double fatal sinking of an Argyll fishing boat.
The Nancy Glen went down in Loch Fyne, near Tarbert, on January 18.
Duncan MacDougall, 46, and Przemek Krawczyk, 38, both fathers and husbands who lived in the village, were on board when the trawler sank. The alarm was raised by a third fisherman, John Miller, who was pulled from the water by the crew of a passing boat.
The vessel sank near Barmore Island while returning to its home port of Tarbert and was lying at a depth of more than 460ft.
The community launched a fundraising drive to support the families and pay for the wreck to be raised, but the MAIB said at the time said it could not raise the vessel.
The Scottish Government then agreed to cover the costs of the salvage operation – thought to be about £1 million – and worked with salvage specialists and with the families of crewmen to support efforts to recover their bodies.
And it was confirmed yesterday that police have now been asked to investigate.
A Crown Office spokesman said: “The Procurator Fiscal has instructed Police Scotland to investigate the circumstances around the deaths of Duncan MacDougall and Przemek Krawczyk in Loch Fyne on January 18 2018.
“The families will continue to be kept updated in relation to any significant developments.
“As this is a live investigation it would not be appropriate to comment further.”
A specialist lifting barge was used to bring the wreck to the surface last month and the bodies of the missing fishermen were recovered.
The decision by the Scottish Government to lift the boat means that all of the money raised by the campaign can go to support the men’s families and the survivor, Mr Miller. There has been a huge outpouring of support from the local community following the tragedy, with individual donations and fundraising events raising more than £286,000.
Days after the tragedy, a poignant candlelit vigil was held at the Tarbert village quayside in support of the families who had lost their lived ones.
