Sir, The Courier reports (July 6) a new online educational resource to help teach pupils about Piper Alpha, which has been launched prior to the 25th anniversary of the disaster. Will this resource tell the whole story?
In another report to mark this sad anniversary Jane Franchi, a noted BBC journalist and eyewitness to the tragedy, says that the owner/operator of the ill-fated oil production platform, Occidental Petroleum (Caledonia) Ltd, “never ever apologised” for the disaster. The reason they didn’t is because the Scottish justice system concluded they had done nothing that warranted criminal proceedings against them.
Thus, despite the Cullen Inquiry finding overwhelming evidence of Occidental’s systemic bad working practices/conditions and defective safety procedures, no corporate culpability was established.
Instead, some seven years later, it was established by Lord Caplan that blame was attributable to the supposed and highly-speculative failures of a dead workman (without any firm evidence to support this finding) who could not defend himself.
As someone who has spent a lifetime in the engineering industry I considered this finding incredible.
I also see a stark contrast between Scotland’s fawning, subservient treatment of multinational companies working in our waters to the US government’s strident, and critical reaction to those same companies’ shortcomings in US waters.
For example, I cannot see the many US inquiries and prosecutions arising out of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, (11 dead), coming up with conclusions similar to the Piper Alpha disaster (167 dead): that it was all down to a roustabout with a ring-spanner in his hand now lying dead at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. In the United States of America, the buck may well not stop till it reaches the top.
Tom Minogue. 94 Victoria Terrace, Dunfermline.
Is no-one else concerned?
Sir, I wonder if I am the only Scottish voter to be very concerned about the alleged goings-on in the Falkirk area? Surely the people of Falkirk deserve, and should expect, a range of candidates without any type of bias, but certainly bearing strong views concerning the Falkirk region, so they can decide who is the best candidate for them.
It begs the more serious question about what on earth has been going on in Scotland in the past? Personally, I would call for a thorough investigation into the selection processes in our Scottish constituencies and also their subsequent elected candidates.
I do get the impression that certain people in Scottish politics in the past and, I believe, even now are of the firm belief that they somehow own Scotland and can do as they damn well please partly because of voter apathy and, more worryingly, the love of the power and the kudos this power and authority brings. As the old adage says, you get what you deserve and unfortunately this is never more true than now. Now is the time for change in politics and not at a later date to suit any particular minority.
Donald Alari. 59 Ochil Terrace, Dunfermline.
Nothing to do with the ‘Nats’
Sir, The whole nation rejoiced at Andy Murray’s success in the Wimbledon Championships a victory of three sets to love; Great Britain at its best!
I was, however, astonished when the TV cameras homed in on David Cameron, our Prime Minister, obviously jubilant about Murray’s success, and found “Wee Eck” waving an enormous St Andrews flag two rows behind the PM.
The SNP may try to “cash in” on just about anything to further their cause, but how dare they try to convince us that Andy Murray’s success in tennis is anything to do with them.
Murray’s initial grounding in tennis may well have been on the courts in his hometown of Dunblane, but his career has been developed in other parts of the world, including the UK in its entirety, the USA and, I am sure, many other locations.
Why must the “Nats” always try to capitalise on anything which may just help to further their pathetic cause. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is very important to the majority of us living on these islands. It is in the interests of all of us to stick together.
Robert I G Scott. Northfield Cottage, Ceres.
Antics will have lost them votes
Sir, A fantastic achievement from Andy Murray to take the title.
I watched this thrilling match on TV but was astounded to see that Alex Salmond felt it necessary to make a political point by jumping up and down waving the Scottish Saltire in pursuit of an ever decreasing “Yes” vote.
His childish antics have lost him even more votes.
Clark Cross. 138 Springfield Road, Linlithgow.
Ridiculous decision
Sir, What next? First the police relinquished “local” from their definition of community service and now their generals have decreed they can do without the support provided free of charge by the Civil Air Patrol.
This decision is simply ridiculous and the “man from the Met” should be forced to go home to think again by his paymasters that’s us, the public the police are meant to serve.
Galen Milne. Ochiltree, Dunblane.