A Presbyterian minister who is involved in the fishing industry was given £35,000 yesterday in a settlement of a dispute over decommissioning his boat. The Rev Alexander Thompson, of Dromara, Co Down, sued the Ministry of Agriculture in the High Court in Belfast for negligence and breach of contract.
His lawyers claimed the ministry offered him £163,000 to take his trawler, Radiant Morn, out of service. However, he was later informed there had been a clerical mistake and the offer was withdrawn. In the meantime, Mr Thompson had purchased another trawler, Argent BF 130, along with a licence and a fish quota. His action against the ministry was settled out of court.