Perthshire sailor’s wife denies claims Navy tried to declare him dead

The wife of a missing British sailor has denied an MP’s claims that the Royal Navy tried to declare her husband dead without consulting her.

Rachael MacColl issued a statement which said she had been kept informed by the Navy about all aspects of Leading Seaman Timmy MacColl’s disappearance in Dubai last year.

Tory MP Caroline Dinenage said the Navy should not have sought to get a certificate of death until they had spoken to the family in person.

Mrs MacColl, from Gosport, Hampshire, disputed Ms Dinenage’s claims and said she had been kept “informed and fully engaged” with the Royal Navy with regards to all aspects of her husband’s disappearance.

She said: “I can confirm that the Royal Navy has been discussing the process of registration of death for Timmy with me.

“This is incredibly painful and I do not wish to discuss this any further in public.

“I can say, however, that no application has been submitted to date.”