Bloody truth: Nuclear veterans sign up to join new legal fight against the MoD
Barbara Butler dried her eyes, looked to the sky and said: “This is for you, Tony.”
The wheelchair-bound widow became one of hundreds of people to sign up to a legal case suing the Ministry of Defence for missing medical records taken during Cold War nuclear tests.
Tony Butler was was an RAF corporal when he was sent to witness two massive hydrogen bombs at Christmas Island in 1957 and 1958. He died in 2009, after decades of ill health, when an MRI discovered he was “riddled” with tumours in almost every organ.
“We’ve waited so long for justice, but we’ll get there in the end,” said Barbara, 79, of Worksop. "Tony's watching, I know he's happy about today. It's a day we thought might never come."
You can donate to help the Nuclear Test Veterans' fight for justice by clicking this link.
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Test veteran widow Barbara Butler, 79, of Worksop, has signed up to the legal case being brought against the Ministry of Defence for illegally withholding medical records of men who served in Cold War weapons trials
Nuclear test veteran Tony Butler, pictured while serving on Christmas Island (Image: Sarah Evans)Three children the couple had after he returned from Operation Grapple have auto-immune conditions. Youngest daughter SJ had six miscarriages, atrial fibrillation, vitilligo, connective tissue problems and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, in which some of the body's automatic systems malfunction. The whole family has signed up to the case.
"Everyone's got a smile on their face now," said SJ, 47, of Silverstone, Northants. "We've got hope."
Human rights lawyers Jason McCue and Matthew Jury were invited to the nuclear veterans’ annual reunion at Pontin's, Sand Bay, following the Mirror’s revelations yesterday that the MoD holds 150 hidden documents about blood tests taken during the UK weapons trials.
“These men need the public’s support to make Britain a country we can all truly be proud of, just as it should be proud of these veterans,” said Mr McCue. “They are still fighting for the country - it’s about what it is wrong with the UK and the sort of country we all want our children to grow up in.”
Lawyers Oli Troen and Jack Beeston sign up more than 100 waiting test vetearns at families at the annual reunion in Pontins. Sand BayAfter the lawyers explained the case in private and answered questions, the veterans signed up as new clients and took part in a press call. A £100,000 crowdfunder has been launched to help force the MoD to disclose what happened to the blood tests and other records. The Mirror has contributed the first £20,000.
Veteran John Morris, 86, of Rochdale, said: “This has been a hell of a day. I’m gobsmacked to be honest. It felt for a long time like we were tiny fish in a big pond, and now it feels like we’re all swimming together, in the same direction. The tide is turning at last.”
Many veterans and families were tearful, and shared stories about service records that are missing parts relating to the tests. They also produced more evidence that legitimate requests to see documents are being systematically - and unlawfully - refused.
We first reported the nuked blood scandal last November, and have revealed hundreds of pages of documentation about ordering blood tests on servicemen and civilians throughout 15 years of radioactive experimentation in Australia and the South Pacific. This week we reported that the Atomic Weapons Establishment, which had previously denied holding any blood data, had confirmed it holds 150 documents, most of them withheld from public view, with titles including "blood count data", and "medical examinations of natives".
Since the Mirror revealed the new evidence on Wednesday, with co-ordinated coverage on the BBC and with the Adelaide Advertiser, veterans and families in America and Australia have contacted the law firm asking to join the case.
Managing partner Matthew Jury said: "There is no clearer sign of a massive injustice than the fact that we've been inundated wth people wanting to join the case, both here and abroad. We will make requests for medical records on behalf of any claimants, and if necessary will take High Court action to force the MoD to reveal what it is clearly hiding."
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The MoD insists that no records are withheld, and veterans may request to see what is in their files. Yet in 2018 it told Parliament it had “no information” about blood tests of personnel, and last week admitted in an FOI it held at least 150 documents with titles including “blood tests of personnel”.
Shadow Veterans Minister Rachel Hopkins said: “ Labour backs our nuclear test veterans, supporting their campaign to receive the long overdue recognition and medals they deserve. Yet Tory ministers keep making it difficult, and now they are forcing our veterans to fight for their own medical records. Ministers should ensure the MoD is more transparent and respect both the risks they faced and the lasting consequences their families have suffered.”
The campaign has also been supported by Help for Heroes and LABRATS.
You can donate to help the Nuclear Test Veterans' fight for justice by clicking this link.
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