Glasgow And Ships Of The Clyde

Chief steward of Falmouth tug"Dexterous" found guilty of manslaughter

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 30th January 1948

GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER BUT RELEASED

A jury's recommendations to mercy brought immediate release of James Ryan, a Londoner, chief steward of the Falmouth tug "Dexterous," who was found guilty at Cork of the manslaughter of the chief engineer, James Gordon McKeddie, while the tug was anchored at Berehaven, County Cork.

They had recommended Ryan to mercy because chief engineer McKeddie, who died after a quarrel, was said to have been in poor health, which accelerated his death, and because of provocation.

Judge O'Connor told Ryan : "I will give effect to the jury's recommendation. Your country needs people at present to work there, and you should go back to England."

He sentenced him to nine weeks imprisonment from the date of arrest, which meant immediate release. He directed Ryan to return to England within four days.