‘Guinea pig’ Gulf veterans’ fight boosted by legal letter
Injury claims over effects of vaccines carry more weight as 1997 document waives time limitations
VETERANS suing the Government over Gulf War Syndrome have uncovered a legal document dating back 26 years that could give the green light to one of the biggest ever group actions against the Ministry of Defence.
Lawyers acting for the veterans have unearthed a letter sent by legal advisers for John Major’s government that pledged that no time limit was set on any future legal action.
The team is preparing to lodge more than 200 claims for compensation on behalf of members of the Armed Forces who suffered side-effects of vaccines administered to protect them from chemical and biological weapons.
The move comes before Tuesday’s 32nd anniversary of the end of the first Gulf War, which saw the largest single deployment of British troops since the Second World War, with more than 50,000 British servicemen and women taking part in the conflict against Saddam Hussein’s forces.
Hilary Meredith-Beckham, of Hilary Meredith Solicitors, who kept boxes of documents relating to her decades-long fight on the veterans’ behalf, discovered the 1997 letter in her extensive archives.
In it, the Treasury Solicitor, who provides legal advice to ministers, tells her: “My clients have just confirmed to me, and I pass this on, that they will not seek to defend actions seeking damages for Gulf War Syndrome by relying on the three-year limitation period.”
The MoD’s copy of the letter is understood to have been inadvertently destroyed, along with dozens of other vital documents, in the years that followed the end of the Gulf War.
But its reappearance will make it difficult for the present Government to reject any legal action by the veterans as falling outside of the normal three-year period for personal injury claims. Ms Meredith-Beckham told The Sunday Telegraph: “A legal remedy for those affected so long ago and still suffering is long overdue. It is time for the MoD to honour its responsibilities to those who gave so much.”
Around 17,000 UK personnel – a third of the 51,000 who served – have suffered ailments including chronic fatigue, PTSD, joint pain, breathing problems, headaches, insomnia, mood swings and memory loss since being given vaccines. Many have since died.
Lawyers say research shows that of the 36-nation coalition opposing Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, troops from only five countries – UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Denmark – suffered significant levels of illness.
Ms Meredith-Beckham said: “The common denominator in those with illnesses is the anthrax vaccine. Now is
the time, on the 32nd anniversary of the Gulf War, to acknowledge the mistakes that were made, recognise the health issues our veterans are suffering from and provide adequate compensation.”
A number of retired Whitehall officials have now come forward to help the veterans with their case.
Ms Meredith-Beckham said their assistance is helping contribute towards a growing body of evidence showing troops were given dangerous and in some cases unlicensed vaccines.
She added: “Untried and untested inoculations were given without informed consent. Our troops were treated as guinea pigs.”
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “We cannot comment on ongoing litigation. We are however indebted to all those who served our country in the Gulf wars and have already sponsored significant research into the effects of this conflict on veterans.”