Hostel owner last seen on death loch
A HOSTEL owner missing since last week was last seen going out in a boat on a loch where four men drowned eight years ago.
Extensive searches have been taking place for Joachim Brolly, 59, owner of the Torran Bay Hostel by Loch Awe in Argyll. He has not been seen since last Thursday afternoon.
His 1,600-acre hill farm has its own slipway, where Mr Brolly was last seen getting into a boat.
The search comes almost exactly eight years since William Carty, 47, his brother Steven, 42, Thomas Douglas, 36, and Craig Currie, 30, died after their small boat capsized in heavy fog as they returned to their campsite following a night at a loch-side pub.
A fatal accident inquiry found the men had been drinking, were badly equipped for the voyage and failed to take safety precautions when the tragedy happened on March 21, 2009.
Inspector Julie McLeish said: “An extensive search involving police, fire and rescue service and coastguard has been ongoing since Mr Brolly was reported missing on Friday, March 10.
“We have received information he went out on a boat around 3pm on Thursday, March 9. However, there have been no sightings of him since.
“Anyone who has seen him since Thursday, March 9 is asked to contact police at Lochgilphead immediately via 101.”
Mr Brolly, who was wearing navy trousers, a fleece and jacket, is 5ft 6ins, of medium build with short grey hair.