The fishing vessel Realice was owned by Peracomo Inc, the president and sole shareholder of which was Mr Réal Vallée, who was also the master of the vessel. In June 2006 the Realice , was engaged in snow crab and whelk fishing at Baie-Comeau on the St Lawrence river. Strings of cages were laid on the river bottom, secured at both ends by small anchors, which were attached to buoys. One of the anchors got hooked onto a submarine fibre optic cable owned by the first plaintiff (“Telus”). The anchor with the cable attached was hauled out of the water. Mr Vallée freed the anchor by cutting the cable with an electric saw. A few days later the same thing happened and he cut the cable again.