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THE UK tested its first hydrogen bombs during Operation Grapple near Christmas Island in the South Pacific during the 1950s.

At the end of May 1956, about 1,200 civilians and servicemen were sent to Christmas Island during 1956.

These tests continued until 1958. Nine nuclear explosions were carried out.

In 2005, a study in New Zealand concluded that sailors from the Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal Navy and Fijian Navy who observed the tests from nearby ships later suffered adverse health effects from exposure to radiation fallout, including cancer and genetic abnormalities in the veterans' children.

The Ministry of Defence maintains that few people were exposed to any radiation or contamination at all.

In 2006, 1,000 veterans attempted to sue the MoD using new research which they claimed proved they suffered from serious illnesses or death after being exposed to radiation.

Nine of these veterans took their case to the Supreme Court last year but lost their bid for damages as the court ruled their case was brought forward too late.

The Ministry of Defence argued that too much time has passed since the tests for the case to be allowed to go to court.

Last night, an MOD spokesperson said: "The Ministry of Defence recognises the debt of gratitude we have to the servicemen who took part in the nuclear tests.

"The Supreme Court ruled in March 2012 in favour of the MOD that the claims brought by Nuclear Test Veterans were time-barred and declined to allow the claims to proceed."

Read more: http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/TEST-1952/story-20233716-detail/story.html#ixzz2lwhgp7ho

 Comments (0)
THE UK tested its first hydrogen bombs during Operation Grapple near Christmas Island in the South Pacific during the 1950s.

At the end of May 1956, about 1,200 civilians and servicemen were sent to Christmas Island during 1956.

These tests continued until 1958. Nine nuclear explosions were carried out.

In 2005, a study in New Zealand concluded that sailors from the Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal Navy and Fijian Navy who observed the tests from nearby ships later suffered adverse health effects from exposure to radiation fallout, including cancer and genetic abnormalities in the veterans' children.

The Ministry of Defence maintains that few people were exposed to any radiation or contamination at all.

In 2006, 1,000 veterans attempted to sue the MoD using new research which they claimed proved they suffered from serious illnesses or death after being exposed to radiation.

Nine of these veterans took their case to the Supreme Court last year but lost their bid for damages as the court ruled their case was brought forward too late.

The Ministry of Defence argued that too much time has passed since the tests for the case to be allowed to go to court.

Last night, an MOD spokesperson said: "The Ministry of Defence recognises the debt of gratitude we have to the servicemen who took part in the nuclear tests.

"The Supreme Court ruled in March 2012 in favour of the MOD that the claims brought by Nuclear Test Veterans were time-barred and declined to allow the claims to proceed."

Read more: http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/TEST-1952/story-20233716-detail/story.html#ixzz2lwhgp7ho