UK: Nuclear vets lack proof to link blasts to illnesses - lawyer
23 Jan 2009 7:14 AM
A London court's heard veterans of Britain's nuclear bomb tests in Australia have no evidence to prove their health problems were caused by the radioactive blasts.
Lawyers for the British government's Ministry of Defence have told the High Court claims by veterans suffering a variety of illnesses since the tests more than 50 years ago have not been backed up by solid medical evidence.
More than 800 veterans have gone to the High Court .. hoping to gain approval to sue the Ministry for compensation.
They allege it was negligent for allowing them to be exposed to radiation during the tests between 1952 and 1958.
Many claim to have suffered a variety of illnesses from cancer to skin defects and fertility problems.
But the Ministry's barrister says the individual cases don't come remotely close to proving causation.
The case continues.
