A timely victory for our brave veterans

VETERANS who witnessed the testing of atomic bombs in the 1950s have won a landmark victory.

A High Court judge has ruled the British Nuclear Test Veterans' Association (BNTVA) may take the Ministry of Defence to court in one of the longest battles in English legal history.

Although Mr Justice Foskett told veterans the outcome of the case would be difficult to predict, the account of Bexhill ex-serviceman Malcolm Pike makes very uncomfortable reading.

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Mr Pike tells of inadequate protection gear for servicemen lining the decks of three warships when atom bombs and hydrogen bombs were tested.

He also tells of his deteriorating health, and horrific cancer-related deaths of some of his old comrades.

He also says it wasn't just the veterans themselves who were affected by the testing '“ the health implications were passed onto their families, with his wife unable to carry a baby to term following his posting to Christmas Island.

The BNTVA argues that the MoD knew the risks it was exposing servicemen to at the time, especially as enough years had passed for the depth of the devastation caused to become clear after the first atom bombs were dropped at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

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Friday's decision by Mr Justice Foskett is timely, perhaps overdue, especially in the light of older veterans commemorating the 65th anniversary of D-Day last week.

The High Court ruling flags up that our servicemen must be looked after and protected by our government. After all, they are pledged to risk severe injury or death in the event of any conflict.

While it seems adequate protection is decades too late for Mr Pike and his contemporaries, there is now the chance for their cases to be heard at the highest legal level and for justice to be served.

Even if the MoD chooses to settle out of court, this case will cost the taxpayer a great sum of money.

But in this case the cost is worth it '“ as Mr Pike says, it's not about the money, it's the principle that counts.