AN MP last night criticised the contrast in the treatment of the only

officer court-martialled as a result of the sinking by a Royal Navy

submarine of the trawler Antares and the Royal Navy doctor caught

stealing underwear from a woman colleague's cabin.

Submariner Lieutenant Commander Peter Donnel was given a severe

reprimand after being found guilty on three of the six charges he faced

after the sinking in the Clyde estuary.

But last week, Surgeon Lieutenant James Mackay was kicked out of the

service, given a six-month suspended sentence, and ordered to pay #592

compensation.

The father of one of the four Antares victims yesterday contacted Mr

George Foulkes, Labour MP for Carrick, Cumnock, and Doon Valley, to draw

his attention to the apparent anomaly.

Mr Foulkes said: ''I agree with the dead fisherman's father. I had

written earlier today to Armed Forces Minister Archie Hamilton before

the phone call.

''I asked a question at the time of the Antares court martial, and was

told by Archie Hamilton that they were still considering whether or not

any further proceedings might be taken.

''Now we are in mid-July and they still seem to be considering. I am

being sickened by the delay, the way in which the Navy seems to be

ganging up to protect people while, in a relatively trivial case,

Lieutenant Mackay is dealt with quickly and severely.

''But there can be no comparison between his action and action that

results in the death of four men.''

Mr Foulkes added: ''In my letter to Archie Hamilton, I had asked him

to let me know when the Commander in Chief, Fleet, does come to a

decision.

''I suspect that what they want to do is make a decision to take no

further action and hope that we don't pick it up.

''I can understand, as any reasonable person would, how this dead

trawlerman's father feels sick in the pit of his stomach.''

Campbeltown lawyer Patrick Stewart, secretary of the Clyde Fishermen'

Association, pointed out last night that many fishermen cannot

understand why no further courts martial have resulted from the sinking

of Antares.

''They point out to me that, even if the skipper of a fishing boat is

in his bunk when his vessel is involved in an incident, it is he who

ends up in the dock,'' he said.