Skipper Jailed For Manslaughter

In the first case of its type, the skipper of a vessel that sank causing the death of two of its crew has been jailed for a year.

At the time, coastguard rescue teams from Newcastle, White Rock and Portaferry were sent to conduct an inshore search and the RNLI lifeboats from Portaferry and Newcastle were requested to launch.

The Irish Rescue helicopter from Dublin was also scrambled to help with the search, as were PSNI teams on the shore.

Now, skipper Conrad Zych, 28, who was found to have left the wheelhouse of 'The Greenhill' 10 minutes before it crashed into rocks near Ardglass, Co Down, in January 2006, has paid the penalty.

Zych, who was the only survivor, was sentenced at Downpatrick Crown Court after he admitted the manslaughter of Conor Bogues, 24, and Donall Gibson, 22.

Earlier this week, the Bogues family urged the judge not to jail Zych.

However, Judge Anthony Hart at Belfast Crown Court said Zych was guilty of gross negligence, and the skipper's neglect of essential safety precautions could not be excused.

"That the failure to keep a proper watch is a not uncommon practice cannot exculpate the defendant from punishment, nor should it affect the nature of the punishment," he said.

"That is because it is essential for the safety and preservation of life at sea, particularly in the course of an occupation which is often dangerous, that high safety standards as required by law are maintained because the consequences of a failure to do so can have such tragic consequences."

Mr Gibson's body was recovered. Mr Bogues has not been found.

None of the men had been wearing life jackets.

See: Greenhill's wheel unattended during crash

See: Search for missing fishermen locates wrecked boat

(DW)