FAI into Loch Alsh fish farm death

A fatal accident inquiry will be held into the death of Clive Hendry, who died while working at Mowi Scotland’s Ardintoul fish farm on Loch Alsh, to help avoid such an incident happening again.

 

Mr Hendry, 58, from Dornie, drowned after he was crushed while transferring from a workboat to a barge on February 18, 2020.

 

Mowi Scotland Ltd were charged with serious breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which led to Mr Hendry’s death.

 

The company pleaded guilty at Inverness Sheriff Court in May and were fined £800,000, reduced from £1.2 million.

 

Catriona Lockhart, Mr Hendry’s partner of 28 years, had called for a fatal accident inquiry (FAI), so “no other families have to go through this living hell”. Now, she told us: "My battle paid off".

 

A Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) spokesperson confirmed: "Crown Counsel has now formally instructed that there should be a FAI to examine the full circumstances surrounding the death of Clive Hendry.

 

"This FAI follows the prosecution and conviction of Mowi Scotland Limited for a breach of health and safety legislation. COPFS is liaising with the court to identify an appropriate location and dates for the FAI to take place."

 

Debbie Carroll, who leads on health and safety investigations for the COPFS, said: “The death of Clive Hendry occurred while in the course of his employment and as such a FAI is mandatory.

 

“The prosecution in this case was an important step which had to be taken before the holding of a FAI could be fully considered.

 

“The public interest will now be further served in a FAI to examine the full circumstances surrounding this tragic death and to help avoid such an incident happening again in the future."

 

Unlike criminal proceedings, FAIs are inquisitorial in nature, and are used to establish facts rather than to apportion blame.