THE inquiry into the loss of the Peterhead trawler Trident with seven of her crew is nearing its conclusion.
In Aberdeen yesterday, the closing submissions were started and it is now widely expected that the hearing will end later this week. the findings are likely before the end of the year.
The inquiry began eight months ago and has been dogged by almost as much controversy as the original disaster in 1974. Some of the families of those who lost their lives complained after it emerged that in 1976 two years after what was Scotland's worst fishing disaster for many years a preliminary report was compiled which found that the vessel had insufficient stability - something the relatives have been claiming was the problem all along.
They say the report should have been made available to them back then, and some withdrew from the hearing for a time because they felt the 1976 report said it all. The Advocate General's office apologised for the omission, but added that the report was public and no attempt was made to hide anything.The men who died were Robert Cordiner, Alexander Ritchie, George Nicol, James Tait, Thomas Thain, Alexander Mair and Alexander Summers.
The original inquiry ruled the vessel had been sunk by a massive wave however the families of the men maintain the Trident was unstable. The new inquiry was ordered after the wreck of the boat was found by divers off the Caithness coast in 2001.The trawler was en route from Troon to Peterhead for a survey at the time of the sinking. She was last sighted by another fishing boat, the Faithful 11, but then she disappeared and was not seen again until the wreck was discovered by amateur divers about eight years ago.
Should people be 'stimulated' to eat white fish alternatives to cod?
