Alex Salmond has been accused of refusing to order a full investigation into offshore helicopter safety because he does not want to upset the oil industry ahead of the referendum.
Solicitor advocate Chris Gordon claimed the sector was the first minister’s “golden egg” in terms of financing independence, and instigating a probe that could lead to prosecutions would “look bad”.
The Aberdeen-based lawyer, whose firm, Thompsons, represented some of the families who lost loved ones in the 2009 Super Puma crash, said fatal accident inquiry (FAI) legislation needed to be strengthened.
Following a six-week inquiry into the 2009 disaster, which killed 16 men, Sheriff Principal Derek Pyle said it was “possible” the accident could have been prevented had it not been for failures on the part of helicopter operator Bond to follow maintenance procedures and to communicate with maker Eurocopter.
Relatives have criticised the Crown Office’s decision not to prosecute anyone over the tragedy.
Mr Gordon said his firm would be urging Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland to “reopen the possibility of a prosecution”.
Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Perth, the lawyer said it was “astonishing” the government had ordered an industry-led review of offshore helicopter safety only after another crash near Shetland last August left four dead.
Referring to the independence referendum, Mr Gordon said: “Alex Salmond is basing everything on the oil industry and he does not want any sort of investigation, prosecution into what he perceives to be his golden egg. It would look bad.”
He said he supported trade union Unite’s campaign to improve helicopter safety, and Labour MSP Patricia Ferguson, who wants a swifter launch for FAIs and legal enforcement of sheriffs’ recommendations.
A Scottish Government spokesman said it was committed to bringing forward a bill to implement the recommendations of Lord Cullen’s review of FAI legislation before 2016.