Today Marks 11 Years Since The Solway Harvester Tragedy

It's been eleven years to the day since the tragedy of the Solway harvester.

 

The scallop dredger set off on a journey from Scotland on the tenth of January 2000.

 

The next day the crew came across heavy seas near the Isle Of Man.

 

They attempted to head for shelter in Ramsey but their journey was fatal.

 

All seven crew, two just 17 years old, died in the stormy waters.

 

The seven men who died all came from the Machars area of Galloway, which includes the villages of the Isle of Whithorn, Whithorn and Garlieston.

 

They were skipper Andrew Craig Mills, 29; his brother Robin Mills, 33; their cousin David Mills, 17; Martin Milligan, 26; John Murphy, 22; David Lyons, 18, and Wesley Jolly, 17.

 

In 2008, Coroner Michael Moyle ruled the deaths of all seven crew members as accidental.

 

A memorial has been set up in memory of them on Douglas head.