Atomic bomb test vets sue

Apr 20 2008 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun

NINE North veterans have joined a multi-million pound legal action against the Ministry of Defence over the harm they suffered witnessing nuclear bomb tests.

Around 900 ex-servicemen launched a High Court bid in 2006, claiming the MoD knew — or should have known — of the potentially devastating effects of tests that took place in the Pacific in the 1950s and 1960s.

Last week, a further 180 atomic blast veterans, including the nine from the region, joined the legal battle when London law firm Rosenblatt filed a writ in the High Court on their behalf.

Rosenblatt is using research unearthed by scientists in New Zealand which shows servicemen’s genes have been altered as proof.

One of the claimants, George Davies, 72, of Pennywell, Sunderland, worked for a year as an engineer on Christmas Island from 1957 to 1958.

The grandfather-of-six said: “I remember the first time we saw a bomb blast I had no protective clothing on, just a silly sun hat and summer shorts and the force of the blast practically lifted me off my feet. It was a very queasy experience.

“And it’s left me in very poor health.

“I developed Parkinson’s disease four or five years ago and I also suffer from gastric problems. That’s why my family have urged me to sue the MoD.”

At present, the 1000-plus servicemen are fighting to have their day in court because the MoD claims they are out of time in bringing the case.

The ministry are using a “limitation defence”, arguing that the men’s cases should have been brought within three years of their injuries appearing.

Mervyn Fudge, a consultant with Rosenblatt’s, said: “They are trying to strike out the claim on a technicality. They are saying that these vets have known for more than three years that they have suffered injury by being exposed.

“That is morally bankrupt because the government have been saying since the mid-1980s, when these people started to think they may have been ill, that they were not exposed.

“They are now saying you should have brought the claim earlier, which is absolutely hypocritical. They want to have their cake and eat it.”

An MoD spokesman said: “When compensation claims are received they are considered on the basis of whether or not the Ministry of Defence has a legal liability to pay compensation. Where there is a proven legal liability, compensation is paid.”

Page 2: Our story prompts John to seek compensation