Law suit filed in harbour tragedy

THE common law wife of expatriate journalist Eddie Donoghue, who died after a pleasure junk collided with a ferry in Victoria Harbour following the Lunar New Year firework display in February 1991, is suing the masters of the two vessels for damages.

Ms Marion Bourke, on behalf of Donoghue's mother, Anne, his sister, Orlaith, and his brother, Michael, claimed the tragedy was caused by the negligence of the junk's master, Mr Ian Robert Watson, 55, and the master of the Man Loy ferry, Mr Chui Yung-kan,53.

Ms Bourke named Hongkong Ferry (Holdings) Company Ltd as a third defendant.

Her writ, filed in the Supreme Court, follows news of a Marine Police report being sent to the Legal Department discussing the possibility of reopening the case.

Officers are angry at what they believe was the leniency of Deputy Judge Jennings' decision to fine Mr Watson $10,000 last week after he pleaded guilty to endangering life at sea.

Privately they are also critical of the judge's instructions to the jury during Mr Chui's trial to acquit the ferry master of manslaughter whenever they felt he did not have a case to answer.