MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News Update

Rob McGill with the sei whale on Carcass Island.

Sei whale washes up on Carcass. -

ONE animal’s misfortune has become the gain of hundreds of others on Carcass Island.The body of an enormous sei whale was found dead with hundreds of giant petrels around it, when the island’s owner Rob McGill discovered it on Sunday.

“It lies on the beach south of the Northwest Point, not very far from the airstrip and thankfully well away from the settlement,” Rob’s wife, Lorraine told Penguin News, well aware how strong the smell of the animal will be as it decomposes.

The giant petrels had gorged so much on the whale they were too heavy to take off, she added.

The whale - which Lorraine estimated to be between 56 and 58 feet long - was lying with its head towards the sea and had no obvious injury marks.

This is the third dead whale to wash up on Carcass Island in the past two years, she said: “Last year two washed up here, but not as big as this one.”

Expensive night out for soldiers

£4,060 in fines after all hell broke loose outside the Trough

A “MASS BRAWL” involving members of the military and local residents outside the Trough last month led to three soldiers being heavily fined in court this week.

Colin Brown, Peter Reilly and Steven Doolan from the Mercian Regiment all pleaded guilty to charges relating to the fight, when they appeared before the Magistrate on Wednesday.

According to Crown Counsel Elliott Taylforth, a derogatory comment made by Islander Marc Short about Mr Brown’s home town of Manchester and another exchange between Mr Brown and local woman, Karen Rozee, lead to “all hell breaking loose” in the early hours of April 26. It was unclear just how many people had become embroiled in the fight; however Mr Short had ended up on the ground and was assaulted by all three defendants before a number of local people became involved and tried to drag Mr Short away.

Mr Taylforth said Mr Doolan was described by witnesses as “going mad” and had picked up a rock which he threw through the window of a Toyota Surf vehicle parked nearby.

Police Constables Barlow and McDade came across the men while heading to the Trough in response to emergency calls about the fight. They asked them to identify themselves and Mr Doolan refused to give his details. As this was happening, a local man approached the group and “mouthed off”, Mr Taylforth said.

PC McDade tried to stop Mr Doolan and the local man from fighting and the soldier put the policeman into a headlock and hit him. While Mr Doolan was taken to the police station by the two police officers, Mr Reilly and Mr Brown were left with a third officer, Sergeant David Roberts, to whom Mr Reilly said: “You are on your f***ing own now, what are you going to do?”

He and Mr Brown were in turn arrested and taken to the police station.

In court on Tuesday, the three defendants expressed remorse for their actions, with Mr Brown saying he had acted in self-defence.

Outlining the military’s position on the incident, their officer in command, Major Barnbrook, said the army would be taking action against the three, who were in the Falklands as part of their training before going to Afghanistan next year, regardless of the outcome of the court hearing.

In delivering sentences to the soldiers, Senior Magistrate John Trevaskis gave them credit for their guilty pleas and expressions of remorse, however he added: “You have not only let yourselves down, but also your regiment and you have damaged the reputation of military personnel in the eyes of the civilian population. You are here as guests of the Falkland Islands and as such, subject to the laws of these islands...”

“While you are welcome guests in the civilian community, together with your colleagues, nevertheless you are expected to conduct yourselves in a manner which is consistent both with good manners and good order and military discipline.”

He said the men had had more to drink than they could handle and had been unable to exercise judgement and walk away. “Instead you let some ill-judged comments by others prompt you to physical violence.”

All three men were equally culpable for the offence of affray, Mr Trevaskis said and although he had had the opportunity to withdraw from the scene, MrDoolan had thrown the rock at the vehicle window, “a potentially very dangerous action.”

Mr Doolan again had aggravated a serious situation by assaulting the police officer, something Mr Trevaskis said, was “the most serious aspect” of the night. As for the threat to Sgt Roberts made by Mr Reilly, Mr Trevaskis said the court would not tolerate such behaviour towards members of the Royal Falkland Islands Police.

All three men were fined £500 for the charge of affray, ordered to pay £100 each in compensation to Mr Short and prosecution costs of £70.

In addition, Mr Reilly was fined £250 for his threatening behaviour towards Sgt Roberts, while Mr Doolan was fined £300 and £1,000 respectively, for criminal damage and assaulting a police officer. He was also ordered to pay £200 in compensation to the owner of the Toyota Surf and £300 to PC McDade.

The soldiers were all due to depart the Islands on today’s airbridge flight. Continued on page 3.

Penguin News