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Bomb blast engineer loses action Bomb blast engineer loses action
(about 4 hours 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 was hurt when his Land Rover was hit by a blast in Basra.Graham Hopps was hurt when his Land Rover was hit by a blast in Basra.
Mr Hopps, 45, of Leeds, claimed the MoD left him inadequately protected in a civilian vehicle.Mr Hopps, 45, of Leeds, claimed the MoD left him inadequately protected in a civilian vehicle.
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.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 said he did not plan to appeal against the ruling.
'Much personal cost' Iraq contracts
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 blamed his former employer, Mott MacDonald Ltd and the MoD for not supplying armoured vehicles to transport men working on contracts in Iraq. He 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.
One passenger was killed and Mr Hopps' right arm and shoulder were shattered, leaving him with little movement, as well as hearing damage.One passenger was killed and Mr Hopps' right arm and shoulder were shattered, leaving him with little movement, as well as hearing damage.
The MoD and Mott MacDonald denied liability for the incident
Mr Hopps' 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.Mr Hopps' 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.
He also said Mott MacDonald should have ordered an investigation into the security situation and assessed it when the firm took on its contractual obligations.He also said Mott MacDonald should have ordered an investigation into the security situation and assessed it when the firm took on its contractual obligations.
The MoD and Mott MacDonald denied liability for the incident
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.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.
Denied liability
Dismissing Mr Hopps' 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."Dismissing Mr Hopps' 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."
In his ruling in favour of the defendants, who both denied liability, the judge said the number of attacks at the time of the incident appeared to be increasing, but their nature and the improvised explosive devices involved - and their consequences - did not seem such that armoured vehicles should have been ordered for civilian contractors.In his ruling in favour of the defendants, who both denied liability, the judge said the number of attacks at the time of the incident appeared to be increasing, but their nature and the improvised explosive devices involved - and their consequences - did not seem such that armoured vehicles should have been ordered for civilian contractors.
He added that he was not satisfied that the level of risk from Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks was such that Mr Hopps should have been confined to the compound until an armoured vehicle was available to transport him. He added that he was not satisfied that the level of risk from improvised explosive device (IED) attacks was such that Mr Hopps should have been confined to the compound until an armoured vehicle was available to transport him.
Mr Hopps had told the court in a statement: "Every now and again I can picture the bang and I have difficulty sitting in the back of a car. Mr Hopps said: "I am bitterly disappointed by the verdict.
"I still have pictures in my mind of what happened and I recall thinking that I had lost my arm and holding on to it for dear life." "My life was turned upside down by what happened in Iraq and this claim has taken six years, so to find out it has come to nothing is very frustrating."