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| MoD admits British submarine dragged fishing trawler through Irish Sea | MoD admits British submarine dragged fishing trawler through Irish Sea |
| (3 months later) | |
| A British submarine damaged a fishing trawler it dragged through the Irish Sea, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. | A British submarine damaged a fishing trawler it dragged through the Irish Sea, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. |
| The Karen was pulled at 10 knots after the sub snagged in its fishing nets 18 miles from Ardglass on the south-east shore of Northern Ireland in April. The trawler was badly damaged but the crew escaped unharmed. | The Karen was pulled at 10 knots after the sub snagged in its fishing nets 18 miles from Ardglass on the south-east shore of Northern Ireland in April. The trawler was badly damaged but the crew escaped unharmed. |
| MoD minister Penny Mordaunt said: “The Royal Navy has now confirmed that a UK submarine was, in fact, responsible for snagging the Karen’s nets. The incident, the delay in identifying and addressing the events on that day, and their consequences are deeply regretted. | MoD minister Penny Mordaunt said: “The Royal Navy has now confirmed that a UK submarine was, in fact, responsible for snagging the Karen’s nets. The incident, the delay in identifying and addressing the events on that day, and their consequences are deeply regretted. |
| “It is standing Ministry of Defence policy not to comment in detail on submarine operations but, exceptionally, I can say that this incident occurred because the submarine did not correctly identify the Karen as a fishing vessel with nets in the water, and thus did not give her the berth she would otherwise have had. | “It is standing Ministry of Defence policy not to comment in detail on submarine operations but, exceptionally, I can say that this incident occurred because the submarine did not correctly identify the Karen as a fishing vessel with nets in the water, and thus did not give her the berth she would otherwise have had. |
| “Moreover, had the submarine been aware of the incident at the time, which it was not, then the protocols in place under the code of practice for submarine operations in the vicinity of fishing vessels would have required the submarine to surface and remain on scene while the matter was investigated.” | “Moreover, had the submarine been aware of the incident at the time, which it was not, then the protocols in place under the code of practice for submarine operations in the vicinity of fishing vessels would have required the submarine to surface and remain on scene while the matter was investigated.” |
| The four-member fishing crew scrambled to release wires connecting the net to the out of-control trawler, which had been moving forward slowly but was suddenly sent careering backwards through the water. | The four-member fishing crew scrambled to release wires connecting the net to the out of-control trawler, which had been moving forward slowly but was suddenly sent careering backwards through the water. |
| The vessel made its way back to Ardglass, one of Northern Ireland’s main fishing ports. Part of the deck had to be lifted because it was so badly damaged, and another section was ripped off. Shortly afterwards Mordaunt said she was confident no British submarine had been involved. | The vessel made its way back to Ardglass, one of Northern Ireland’s main fishing ports. Part of the deck had to be lifted because it was so badly damaged, and another section was ripped off. Shortly afterwards Mordaunt said she was confident no British submarine had been involved. |
| Margaret Ritchie, MP for South Down, said: “Fishermen must be confident that their vessels will not be damaged by submarine activity and where incidents do take place, the government will own up to it immediately. It’s important now that the owner and crew of the Karen are compensated for the damage done to their vessel and the time they have lost at sea as a result. I will continue to pursue this matter until we have reached a satisfactory resolution.” | Margaret Ritchie, MP for South Down, said: “Fishermen must be confident that their vessels will not be damaged by submarine activity and where incidents do take place, the government will own up to it immediately. It’s important now that the owner and crew of the Karen are compensated for the damage done to their vessel and the time they have lost at sea as a result. I will continue to pursue this matter until we have reached a satisfactory resolution.” |
| Sinn Féin Stormont assembly member Chris Hazzard said fishermen deserved to be able to work in an environment where they did not have to worry about submarines sinking their boats as fishing was already a dangerous occupation. | Sinn Féin Stormont assembly member Chris Hazzard said fishermen deserved to be able to work in an environment where they did not have to worry about submarines sinking their boats as fishing was already a dangerous occupation. |
| “The British government and MoD must now explain their actions, if any disciplinary measures will be taken arising out of this incident and how it will avoid similar incidents in the future,” he said. | “The British government and MoD must now explain their actions, if any disciplinary measures will be taken arising out of this incident and how it will avoid similar incidents in the future,” he said. |