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Fishing boat saga to Tynwald Select Committee

by isleofman.com 22nd April 2009

A Port Erin couple are welcoming news that an issue surrounding a fishing boat they bought ten years ago is going to be re-examined.

When Joan and Dante Spadoni purchased the Suzanna D, it had been issued with a safety certificate pending registration in the Isle of Man.

But when it began fishing in Manx waters the certificate was withdrawn, after the vessel failed stability tests.

The Spadonis presented a Petition for Redress of Grievance in 2004, claiming the Island's Marine Administration had issued fishing vessel certificates while knowing the United Kingdom's Maritime and Coastguard Agency had been negligent in not carrying out adequate tests.

There were also allegations the Spadonis had illegally modified the vessel, but these were later withdrawn.

A Council of Ministers committee examined the issue and presented its findings last October.

But now, following a motion from Onchan MHK Peter Karran, a Tynwald Select Committee will re-investigate the matter and report back with recommendations.

Mrs Spadoni believes it's time for justice to be done and told Manx Radio:

"Of course we are pleased, and had the sub-committee which was appointed by the previous chief minister, Mr Gelling, made the maladministration of the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency much clearer in their report, then possibly we may have got some redress."

Over the past six years, the Spadonis have been supported by former Rushen MHK John Rimington.

He is pleased a Tynwald Select Committee is going to look at the issue again and, even though the Isle of Man cannot directly hold UK authorities to account, he believes the investigation will serve a worthwhile purpose:

"If something goes wrong in the Isle of Man and say we found out in the Isle of Man that somebody was breaking the law in the UK, you would expect our officers to report that to the proper authorities in the UK.

"That's what didn't take place, and it really should have done, because it wasn't just a question of a minor mistake, it was serious negligence which involved people's lives."



Clip 1
Posted by isleofman.com
Wednesday 22nd, April 2009 06:00pm.

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