Boat death widow slams FAI system

Dec 19 2012

A woman whose husband died when a tugboat capsized five years ago has hit out at the "deficiencies" in the system for fatal accident inquiries (FAIs).

Stephen Humphreys was the skipper of the Flying Phantom, which sank in thick fog on the River Clyde on December 19 2007.

The 33-year-old, from Greenock, died along with Robert Cameron, 65, from Houston, Renfrewshire, and Eric Blackley, 57, from Gourock in Inverclyde. Another crew member, Brian Atchison, 37, escaped from the wheelhouse of the boat and was rescued.

Widows have previously called for a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) to be held into the deaths but such an investigation has not yet taken place.

Now on the fifth anniversary of the men's deaths, Helen Humphreys said: "My own experience of the current system of investigation of workplace fatalities, since the death of Stephen, has allowed me to see first-hand the deficiencies in the process.

"In particular, I have experienced frustration at the length of time taken with no resolution in sight and I have been left feeling a lot of anger at the lack of respect for Stephen's life and the feelings of his family."

She spoke out as Labour MSP Patricia Ferguson announced plans to introduce a Member's Bill to Holyrood to try to reform the system for FAIs. Ms Ferguson is seeking to change the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiries (Scotland) Act of 1976.

She said her experience of working with the families of those killed in the Stockline explosion in Glasgow had left her "all too aware how anachronistic the current FAI system is".

A review of the system carried out by Lord Cullen seems to have been a "wasted opportunity" she said, with its proposals "yet to even be implemented, going little way towards making the system fully fit for purpose".

She stated: "For these reasons I am bringing forward a Bill which I hope will garner widespread support from a majority within the Scottish Parliament." A public consultation for the Bill is to take place next year.