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Bomb blast engineer loses action Bomb blast engineer loses action
(about 1 hour later)
An engineer who was seriously injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq has lost his damages action against his former employers and the Ministry of Defence.An engineer who was seriously injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq has lost his damages action against his former employers and the Ministry of Defence.
Graham Hopps suffered severe shoulder injuries when his Land Rover was struck by an explosion in Basra. Graham Hopps was hurt when his Land Rover was hit by a blast in Basra.
Mr Hopps, 45, from Leeds had claimed the MoD took unnecessary risks by leaving him inadequately protected in a civilian vehicle. Mr Hopps, 45, of Leeds, claimed the MoD left him inadequately protected in a civilian vehicle.
The father-of-two's case was heard at the High Court in London. At the High Court, the judge said he had to reject the claim as it was not clear Mr Hopps would have been better protected in an armoured vehicle.
Mr Hopps blamed his former employer, Mott Macdonald Ltd and the MoD for not supplying armoured vehicles to transport men working on contracts in Iraq. Mr Hopps blamed his former employer, Mott MacDonald Ltd and the MoD for not supplying armoured vehicles to transport men working on contracts in Iraq.
The electrical engineer was injured in October 2003 when the soft-skinned Land Rover provided by the army was hit as it travelled on a road known colloquially as Bomb Alley.The electrical engineer was injured in October 2003 when the soft-skinned Land Rover provided by the army was hit as it travelled on a road known colloquially as Bomb Alley.
'Much personal cost'
One passenger was killed and Mr Hopps's right arm and shoulder were shattered, leaving him with little movement, as well as hearing damage.One passenger was killed and Mr Hopps's right arm and shoulder were shattered, leaving him with little movement, as well as hearing damage.
Mr Hopps's counsel, Nigel Wilkinson QC, told Mr Justice Christopher Clarke the MoD should have recognised the existing arrangements of soft-skinned vehicles were not proper protection for those travelling in Iraq at that time.
And, he said Mott MacDonald should have ordered an investigation into the security situation and assessed it when the firm took on its contractual obligations.
But the judge said he found it impossible to conclude that if Mr Hopps had been in an armoured vehicle he would probably not have suffered his injuries or, at least, would have been less seriously hurt.
Dismissing Mr Hopps's case, he said: "The fact that I have done so in no way reduces the great credit due to him for the contribution which, at much personal cost, he has made to improving the lot of the Iraqi people."