RELATIVES of the fishermen killed in the Solway Harvester disaster have welcomed legal moves to force the trawler owner to give evidence at in inquest into the accident.
The boat, which was based at Kirkcudbright, sank off the Manx coast in January 2000, with the loss of seven lives.
An inquest was started on the Isle of Man in 2006, but proceedings stalled when it emerged that the vessel's owner, Richard Gidne
y, did not want to attend, as he had received legal advice that it may "prejudice a civil claim". Mr Gidney was acquitted of manslaughter charges in 2005 after a judge ruled that there was no case to answer.
Michael Moyle, the coroner leading the inquest, has now lodged an application with the courts to see if Mr Gidney can be forced to give evidence under Scottish jurisdiction.
The Solway Harvester 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, all died in the tragedy. They came from the close-knit villages of Galieston, Whithorn and the Isle of Whithorn in Dumfries and Galloway.
John Milligan, Martin's father, said the announcement increased the likelihood of a civil case being held. "I'm quite happy about the fact the Scottish courts are being brought in. I would like to see what Mr Gidney has to say for himself given that, at the time of the case, when he was found not guilty, he said he would like to have spoken."
The full article contains 261 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
