November 3rd, 2009
The first round of talks on compensation packages for victims of IRA violence have been held this week.
A cross-party delegation of Northern Irish politicians and members of the House of Lords had talks with the Libyan government over potential compensation payouts.
The Libyan government, which is led by Colonel Gaddafi, secretly supplied weapons and explosives to the IRA during the Troubles.
The MPs involved in the talks issued a statement after the meetings with senior Libyan officials to say they had been a constructive and positive first step in the process.
But a Libyan journalist has warned that a long struggle may be ahead.
Rana Jawad told the BBC: "Back in September, Colonel Gaddafi’s son, Saif al-Islam, said he would resist these calls for compensation."
Last month, Colonel Gaddafi sent out confusing signals on the issue when he told Sky News that he was not interested in the visit of the delegation but hinted that a compensation deal had already been struck with the British government.
Tags: Bbc, British Government, Colonel Gaddafi, Compensation Packages, Compensation Payouts, Compensation Talks, Confusing Signals, Delegation, Explosives, House Of Lords, Ira Victims, Ira Violence, Irish Politicians, Libya, Libyan Government, Members Of The House Of Lords, Mps, Quot, Saif Al Islam, Sky News
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October 30th, 2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned employers that they must adhere to regulations regarding working at height following an accident in which a man broke his spine.
Philpott Demolition and Recycling employee Gediminas Vasiliauskas had been removing roof tiles from an aircraft hangar when the tragedy occurred in April 2007.
He was not wearing a safety harness and when he lost his footing, he fell from the roof of the building. The victim had to have a metal plate inserted into his spine and lost his sense of taste and smell.
He was also unable to work for a year after the accident.
Tim Philpott, the owner of the business, was fined for breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was given a substantial fine.
HSE Inspector Nicola Surrey said: "Mr Vasiliauskas was lucky to survive this incident, which could have been avoided if his employer had taken precautions to ensure his employee’s safety."
Under Work at Height Regulations, every employer should make sure that work is not carried out at height when it can be successfully carried out at ground level.
Where work at height is carried out, employers are legally obliged to take adequate steps to prevent falls.
Tags: Adequate Steps, Aircraft Hangar, Demolition, Footing, Health And Safety, Health And Safety At Work, Health And Safety At Work Etc Act 1974, Health And Safety Executive, Nicola, Norwich, Quot, Recycling, Roof Tiles, Safety At Work, Safety Harness, Sense Of Taste, Spine Health, Surrey, Tragedy, Working At Height
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October 19th, 2009
A Bournemouth family is suing Dorset Police after a promising young schoolboy was left with devastating injuries by a police patrol car.
Greg Love, 13, was knocked off his bike by a police vehicle responding to a disturbance in a shop in December 2006.
His head injuries were so severe that he has been left unable to walk, speak or move anything other than his arm.
The family has taken legal action against the police, alleging that the car’s siren had not been working and that it had been travelling at 50mph in a 30mph limit.
Commenting on the claim for compensation, Chris Love, Greg’s father, told the Daily Express: "There’s great sadness. We’re reminded about it daily – wondering about what Greg would be doing each day. All we’re doing this for is to secure the future for Greg."
During pursuits and emergency calls, police officers can break some traffic laws if they have to. However, they are legally obliged to drive carefully and, if they make a mistake, they can be prosecuted.
Tags: Bournemouth, Break, Daily Express, Dorset Police, Head Injuries, Love, Mistake, Police Car, Police Officers, Police Patrol Car, Police Vehicle, Quot, Sadness, Schoolboy, Siren, Traffic Laws
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October 16th, 2009
A woman who was left with a memory span of ten minutes after suffering from a brain haemorrhage has received a multi-million pound payout.
Cristina Malcolm, 41, collapsed in July 2002 with a terrible headache, but was told when she sought medical advice that it was a virus.
In fact, blood had already leaked into her brain and she then went on to suffer a more serious haemorrhage.
Mrs Malcolm was taken to Newcastle General Hospital to have half a litre of blood removed from her brain, but it was too late to reverse the damage and the patient was left brain damaged.
She now needs constant care from her husband Sandy, who describes her as "like a ten-year-old with Alzheimer’s".
GP Dr James Harrison, Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust all admitted to clinical negligence and have agreed to a compensation payout of £4.46 million.
Settlements for brain damage are typically larger than those for other injuries since the money must cover the long-term care of the patient. Anyone affected by cases such as this may wish to seek legal advice.
Tags: Acute Hospitals Nhs Trust, Brain Damage, Brain Haemorrhage, Clinical Negligence, Constant Care, Darlington, Dr James, Gp, Headache, Hospitals Nhs Trust, James Harrison, Left Brain, Legal Advice, Litre, Long Term Care, Medical Advice, Memory Span, Newcastle General Hospital, Quot
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September 21st, 2009
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has spoken out in support of a motion that calls on the government to provide compensation for sufferers of pleural plaques.
Trade body the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (Ucatt) believes that the government should overturn the Law Lords ruling made in 2007 which states that people suffering from pleural plaques should not receive compensation.
Pleural plaques occur when the lining of the lung swells, mostly due to asbestos exposure. Victims may be at risk of developing more serious asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma later on in life.
Commenting on the current law, Ucatt president John Thompson said it is unsuitable and that he hopes Labour will change its stance, adding: "In Barrow, South Shields, Plymouth and other asbestos-blighted towns, it is a crucial test of the morality of this government."
After the TUC gave support to the motion, Gordon Brown has said that a statement on pleural plaques is to be made after parliament returns from its summer break.
Tags: Allied Trades, Asbestos Exposure, Asbestos Related Diseases, Barrow, Bid, Gordon Brown, John Thompson, Labour, Mesothelioma, Morality, Parliament, Pleural Plaques, Plymouth, President John, Quot, Risk, South Shields, Summer Break, Trades Union Congress, Union Congress Tuc
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