Tributes paid to crew of fishing boat missing off Lewis

Tributes have been paid to three fishermen whose boat went missing off north Lewis in the Western Isles on Tuesday.

Douglas Craigie's body was found on Wednesday - the day before his 50th birthday.

Respected fisherman Norman Murray, who is 40 and known as Tam, and his 23-year-old crew-mate Murdo Morrison are still missing.

After an extensive search, HM Coastguard stood down its operations on Thursday evening, pending any new information.

Isles MP Torcuil Crichton said Craigie's devastated family were now planning his funeral, and the islands would miss the "sparkle" of his wit and charm.

Crichton told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime programme: "These men were part of their own community as well as the fishing community of the islands.

"I last came across Douglas Craigie at the Western Isles Fisherman Association Conference last year in Uist, which will no longer sparkle with his wit and charm this year.

"Today would have been his 50th birthday and his family are devastated planning a funeral instead of a party."

Crichton said Murray is a well-respected member of the community of Ness in the north of Lewis, and is one of the Men of Ness who harvest young gannet known as guga.

The MP said Morrison, who is also a guga hunter, is the "kind of young person we try to encourage to go to sea to keep on this age old tradition of fishing".

The search for the missing crew and boat has resumed after being suspended overnight.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said aircraft and coastguard teams were involved.

Police Scotland said it was believed the fishermen had sailed from Brevaig in Lewis at about 07:30 on Tuesday before travelling to the Port of Ness area to fish.

Their boat, the Kilda, was reported overdue at about 21:20 on Tuesday.

Extensive searches were conducted on Wednesday despite bad weather, with gale-force winds.

The body of Douglas Craigie was recovered in the Port of Ness area at about 02:45 on Wednesday.

Ch Insp Ross McCartney, local area commander for the Western Isles, said: "Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragic incident.

"The families of all three men involved are being provided with specialist support as our searches continue. We would ask that the privacy of the families of all three men are respected at this difficult time."

He added: "We are working closely with the HM Coastguard and RNLI to search for the vessel and the two missing men

"We know that the local community will be keen to help in any way they can.

"However, conditions are very challenging and I would urge people not to put themselves at any risk. Please do not attempt to carry out searches in areas which put you at risk of harm.

"Instead, if you believe you may have any information which could assist emergency services then please call 101 quoting reference 3575 of 13 October."

McCartney said a police presence would remain in the Port of Ness area.

A spokesperson for the MCA said: "A range of search and rescue assets have been sent in response, including HM Coastguard helicopters and aeroplanes, coastguard rescue teams, lifeboats, and a nearby vessel.

"The incident is currently ongoing."

The search is taking place off Ness, a sparsely populated area on the northern tip of Lewis.

It is an area of rugged coastline, with many of its roughly 1,300 people living in crofting townships - small holdings where families can raise livestock and grow crops while working other jobs.

The parish has one of the highest concentrations of Gaelic speakers in the Western Isles.

A minute's silence was held earlier at the Royal National Mòd, Scotland's annual celebration of Gaelic culture and language, which is taking place in Glasgow.

Speaking at Westminster earlier, MP Torcuil Crichton paid tribute to coastguard, RNLI and police teams searching for the missing crew.

He said: "The Western Isles have been struck this week by maritime tragedy by the sinking of the fishing vessel, Kilda, in a Tuesday night storm off the coast of Lewis with what is feared to be the subsequent loss of three souls abroad."

Crichton said his condolences went to the families involved, and to other fishing communities that had suffered losses over the years.

On Wednesday, Kenneth Macleod, convener of local authority Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, told BBC Radio Scotland's Lunchtime Live programme: "It is a very dark day for the community of Ness and the community of Lewis in general.

"Our thoughts and condolences are with the families affected.

"We cannot comprehend what the families of the three fishermen are going through at the moment."

In a message on X, First Minister John Swinney said: "This is deeply distressing news.

"My heart goes out to the families of the three fishermen in Ness, and the communities on the Isle of Lewis."