Shipyard defends suspension of worker who colleagues say committed suicide

HALIFAX – The president of the Irving Shipyard in Halifax is defending the suspension of an employee who colleagues say committed suicide the day after the disciplinary measure was taken against him.

Kevin McCoy says the company imposed the 30-day suspension because of a problem with Peter MacKenzie’s inspection of scaffolding.

McCoy says MacKenzie’s death is a tragedy and he has expressed his condolences to the family.

But he denies accusations by some union members that MacKenzie was bullied by the employer, saying it’s not possible to link his death to the suspension.

About 200 workers at the shipyard walked off the job on Thursday morning after hearing of MacKenzie’s death.

The RCMP say the man’s death is under investigation but it appears to be self-inflicted.