03 August 2011
The Supreme Court has given veterans involved in British atomic bomb tests in the 1950s permission to appeal the Court of Appeal’s judgment that nine of the ten test cases are time barred
The test cases represent more than 1,000 cases involved in the action. The veterans say they suffered cancer and other health complaints after witnessing atomic blasts on Christmas Island, in Australia and the Pacific. The Ministry of Defence denies negligence. Neil Sampson of Rosenblatt Solicitors, which is acting on behalf of the Atomic Veterans Group, said he welcomed the decision with “cautious optimism”. “We are still the only country involved in atomic yet to provide compensation and benefits to our veterans and widows.”
