Investigation into St Amant - after death of Dalbeattie fisherman

Jan 17 2013 by Andrew McNair, Galloway News

Criminal charges could be brought after the death of a Dalbeattie fisherman.

Maritime watchdogs confirmed the St Amant boat is being “closely monitored”.

And it emerged yesterday that the scallop dredger was involved in an incident in the North Sea, near Arbroath, on Tuesday when it broke down.

The Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA) confirmed that probes, which may lead to criminal charges, were continuing as they conduct regular checks on the St Amant.

Steven Robertson, 25, disappeared while crewing with the boat off north Wales a year ago. His body has never been found.

And it was revealed this week that he died not knowing he was to become a father.

His girlfriend Megan Willdig found out she was pregnant two weeks after her boyfriend fell to his death from the boat off Anglesey on January 13 last year.

She spoke out as Steven’s family slammed the operators of the poorly maintained St Amant in the wake of a report that revealed a string of safety failures.

Megan, also from Dalbeattie, said: “It breaks my heart that I didn’t have the opportunity to tell him.

“But I didn’t find out until two weeks later and that was too late – he’d already gone.

“I miss him so much. There’s not a day goes by I don’t think about him.

“He was the love of my life and I know he would have been thrilled to know he was going to be a dad. He’d have been a brilliant father.”

Baby Eva was born on October 2.

Home care worker Megan added: “Eva means the world to me – she helps me through the hard times, keeps me going. She’s adorable, just like her dad.”

Steven is believed to have fallen into the sea while trying to urinate off the side of the deck. He was not wearing a life jacket.

There was an agonising wait in notifying his family because the skipper, Sandy Baird, didn’t even know Steven’s surname, next of kin or where he lived.

Local fisherman, 51-year-old Mr Baird was skipper and operator of the St Amant at the time of the tragedy. Richard Gidney, who owns the vessel, was also the owner of the ill fated Solway Harvester which sank in 2000 - with the loss of life of its seven crew.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch report, issued last week, blasted the vessel’s owners as having an “extremely poor attitude” towards safety on board the St Amant.

Steven’s grandparents Angus and June Robertson, both 80, were disgusted at the MAIB’S report.

Angus said: “Nothing’s going to bring our Steven back but I would like some answers.”

Although the couple will never get over the agony of losing Steven, they have found comfort in the fact they now have a great-granddaughter.

June said: “What happened to Steven is heartbreaking but we’re fortunate and grateful to have Eva – our first great-grandchild.

“She even looks like Steven.

“Every time she smiles, it’s Steven. He would be so proud.

“He was always such a lovely boy – a bit of a Jack the lad but a real hard grafter, too.

“He didn’t want to go on the boats but he wanted to be able to provide for Megan. They were so much in love and so right for each other.”