A new report has revealed that more than 80% of veterans involved in the 1950s nuclear testing of A-bombs have since developed multiple medical conditions, some of which have led to claims for personal injury compensation.
The Ministry of Defence funded the research and the findings show that 83% of the veterans now have between two and nine severe long-term illnesses, whilst some have even more.
Despite veterans developing conditions such as skin defects and cancer, the MoD has always been quick to deny any form of negligence.
However, in this latest damning report, only 8% of those questioned said their health was not affected by being at one of the nuclear test sites.
Archie Ross, a former RAF serviceman, was present when the largest bomb was set off on Christmas Island. Although he was too late to participate in the study, he said it was great that the study had been conducted, but expressed concerns that it would be filed away in the hope that ex-servicemen would forget about it.
The Labour government put up £412,000 to fund a study into the veterans’ health, but the coalition reduced that to £75,000. Nevertheless, 633 veterans still came forward.
About 22,000 servicemen, many of whom were on National Service, were ordered to attend bomb tests in America, Australia and Christmas Island.
On November 14th, Mr Ross, along with personal injury solicitors and another 1,000 veterans will go back to London’s Supreme Court to hear whether they are eligible to launch personal injury claims against the MoD.