SURVIVORS of a fishing tragedy claim the inquest into the deaths of brothers Steven and Michael Ridley and their father, Shaun, was a "whitewash".

Brian Ridley - who lost a son and two grandsons when their boat capsized - and his friend, Harry Houghton, survived by clinging to the upturned hull of their vessel in Loch Ryan, off the South-west coast of Scotland.

But they are unhappy with the findings of last months inquest that recorded verdicts of accidental deaths on the tragedy which claimed the lives of Michael, aged 12, and Steven, 15 and their 37-year-old father, all of Abbey Lane, Leigh, in July, 2003.

Mr Ridley and his wife, Marie, also of Abbey Lane, Leigh, and Mr Houghton and his wife, Audrey, of Tunnicliffes New Row, Leigh, were angered by the inquest verdict and disputed some of the evidence presented.

Marine experts told the inquest that a freak wave contributed to the tragedy but that it was -highly unlikely that the wave was caused by apassing ferry.

They said there had been a catalogue of devastating coincidences, including the family's boat being unseaworthy, freak weather conditions, a lack of appropriate safety equipment and the speed with which the vessel sank.

Mrs Houghton said: "They were not going back to shore because of weather conditions - it was a glorious day.

"There was no freak wave and no freak weather conditions - no choppy seas.

"They saw the 3pm ferry coming out of port, as they had seen ferries coming throughout the day with no problems.

"The 3pm ferry was going fast out of the loch and threw big waves up. The first wave cut the engine and the second wave swamped them.

"How can so-called experts say Shaun spoke to his wife on the phone at 3pm just as they were going to head for shore and shortly after Shaun tried to make a 999 call for help, but then they say it was 4.40pm when the boat went down?

"If, as the experts say, the wave was unlikely to have come from the ferry, why have signs gone up since the accident warning people to beware of waves from ferries?

"What a whitewash.

"They tried to say the boat was overloaded but it was licenced to carry six people.

"All we ever wanted was for the truth to be told."