Charges not likely in sealer deaths: RCMP

By TOM AYERS

FOR THE SOU’WESTER

SYDNEY — The investigation was not complete Monday, but RCMP spokesman Sgt. Mark Gallagher said criminal charges are not expected to be laid following an incident in the Cabot Strait in which three seal hunters died and a fourth is missing and presumed dead.

Gallagher said the investigation is continuing and two RCMP officers are in Iles de la Madeleine, waiting respectfully for an opportune time to interview the two survivors and other witnesses to the incident, which occurred Saturday when the L’Acadien II fishing boat capsized and sank while being towed to Sydney by the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Sir William Alexander.

RCMP also interviewed the crew of the icebreaker while it was in port. The bodies of the dead seal hunters were taken off the ship and sent to Halifax for autopsies.

Preliminary autopsy results indicate the cause of death was drowning, said Gallagher, adding there is no reason to believe otherwise.

He said a criminal negligence investigation could be launched if other information comes to light, but it appears the incident was simply an “unfortunate accident.”

The federal Transportation Safety Board was conducting a separate investigation, and the coast guard will perform an internal review that will include its towing policy.

The icebreaker was a hive of activity, Monday, as inspectors walked the Sir William Alexander and a search-and-rescue Cormorant helicopter practised hovering and transferring equipment and personnel to and from the ship.

A military spokesperson said no search-and-rescue missions were conducted.

The helicopter crew was retrieving equipment left on board the ship during Saturday’s rescue, and used the opportunity to conduct some training exercises at the same time, said Joint Task Force Lieut. Lora Collier.

The icebreaker left its berth at the Sydport wharf, Monday.



(Tom Ayers is a journalist with Transcontinental Media’s Cape Breton Post newspaper.)