'Wrong bomb' row over MoD payouts

Guardian.co.uk ^ | 5/25/08 | Mark Townsend

[Dawnsblood]

British soldiers seriously injured in Iraq and Afghanistan are being denied government compensation because they were wounded by the 'wrong type of bomb'. The Ministry of Defence has refused payouts for injuries under its criminal injuries scheme that may have been caused by landmines left by the Soviet army in Afghanistan or other discarded ordnance.

Under the MoD's criminal injuries compensation overseas scheme, frontline troops can claim for an injury or death not caused by military operations against the Taliban or Iraqi militia.

Alternatively, troops injured after April 2005 can also apply for financial support under the armed forces compensation scheme, which offers payouts for soldiers injured or killed on duty.

However, troops rejected from the criminal injuries scheme are no longer eligible for the other scheme, with soldiers' lawyers claiming that a number of injured frontline troops are being denied their rightful compensation.

Manchester-based Hilary Meredith Solicitors, which has more than 20 years experience in pursuing claims against the military, said: 'The government's logic is bizarre and they are clearly wriggling out of paying men injured in war zones by suggesting they have been injured by the wrong type of bomb.'

Recently the government increased the maximum payout under its armed forces compensation scheme to £285,000. Payments under the criminal injuries scheme are higher with a maximum of up to £500,000.

Lawyers representing British troops believe that Soviet landmines and discarded explosives should be classified as causing criminal injuries as they were not deployed against British forces.

[Dawnsblood]

Sounds to me like injuries in a warzone should be treated the same but I will admit that I am no British legal expert.

[NordP]

Oh...that's so sad. My goodness, they've sacrificed so much. If true, this is so wrong.

YET ANOTHER REASON GOVERNMENTS SHOULDN'T RUN HEALTHCARE.

[Ronin]

I am utterly appalled. Just when I think things can’t get any worse in Britain, something like this shows up.