Presumption of death action

Legal moves to declare a missing Western Isles fisherman officially dead have been aired in a court.

Paul Alliston, of Lewis, was last seen after abandoning a sinking shellfish boat off Mingulay in April.

The 42-year-old was the skipper of the Lewis-owned shellfish vessel, MV Louisa, which flooded and went down at anchor some 13 miles south of Barra.

An action raised by under the Presumption of Death Act called at Stornoway Sheriff Court.

There were no objections after the proceedings were advertised by public notice and Sheriff Valerie Johnston allowed the case to progress to the next stage.

The Louisa sinking is the Western Isles’ worst fishing disaster for half a century.

The boat's liferaft did not inflate.

Martin Johnstone, 29, from Caithness, died while trying to swim to shore when the Louisa went down about 250 metres off Mingulay Bay.

Father-of-two, Chris Morrison, 27, of South Harris, also perished.

Lachlan Armstrong, 27, from Stornoway, made it to rocks.

Paul Alliston is still missing despite searches.

Proceedings to declare fisherman dead

9 September 2016