Time for the truth as human
remains are found?

Mediaworld exclusive
Human remains have been found aboard the wreck of the Hull trawler The Gaul which sank in the Barents Sea 28 years ago.

Tonight the relatives of the 36 crew were anxiously waiting to see if the Government sponsored survey would be given more time to finally lay to rest their fears about the fate of their loved ones.
Speculation was mounting in Hull and Tyneside about whether the survey would be given sufficient time to complete their main priority. To establish that all of the 36 crew were on board when The Gaul sank amid rumours that she had been involved in espionage during the height of the Cold War.
The survey has been at sea for almost a month and the anxious families have watched and waited as the experts on board have examined the wreck for signs of why she sank and evidence of the remains of the crew.
Today it has emerged that remains have been found and it is believed one family member has been informed by his legal representative that there appears to be some evidence pointing towards his father’s identity. A statement from the families’ legal representatives, Max Gold Associates of Hull, is expected at some time tomorrow.
The survey was launched after Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott ordered the re-opening of the public enquiry into The Gaul’s sinking saying that there was substantial new evidence to do so. Samples from the survey will go for forensic examination and DNA matching at Wetherby before the enquiry proper is re-opened at a future date.
Before the survey left it was agreed that a 48-hour embargo would apply before sensitive personal details were released to the media. Mediaworld was more than happy to comply with that embargo until it became clear that information had been passed to media sources. At this stage we are not releasing statements from family members until it becomes clear exactly what has been found and whether an extension to the survey has been granted from midnight.
There is no media representation on board the survey vessel, Seisranger, despite the fact that a BBC crew was on board the first survey conducted by the Marine Accident Investigation Bureau. The findings of the MAIB after that survey were that The Gaul was overcome by heavy seas and sank within minutes.
We can report that after speaking to various family representatives there is great concern that the survey ship remains on site to complete as full a recovery of any remains and artefacts as possible. Behind the scenes legal representatives have been making strong calls for the Seisranger to remain on site for as long as is necessary to achieve the two objectives….to determine the cause of the sinking of The Gaul and to satisfy the families of the fate of the 36 crew.
John Prescott has been quite clear in stating that this is the last chance to be sponsored by Government money. If it fails the quest of the families will continue.