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Families win birth defect battle Families win birth defect battle
(9 minutes later)
Families who claim their children were born with defects caused by exposure to toxic waste in Northamptonshire have won their legal battle.Families who claim their children were born with defects caused by exposure to toxic waste in Northamptonshire have won their legal battle.
The 18 families had sued Corby Borough Council, claiming deformities to hands and feet were due to mothers being exposed to a "soup of toxic materials".The 18 families had sued Corby Borough Council, claiming deformities to hands and feet were due to mothers being exposed to a "soup of toxic materials".
The council denied negligence during reclamation works at the Northants town steel plant between 1985 and 1999. The council had denied negligence during reclamation works at the town steel plant between 1985 and 1999.
The council insisted there was no link between the clean-up and any defects. It had insisted there was no link between the clean-up and any defects.
The case at London's High Court relates to birth defects in 18 young people aged between 22 and nine, with links to Corby. The case at London's High Court related to birth defects in 18 young people aged between nine and 22, with links to Corby - however, Mr Justice Akenhead said his ruling on liability did not cover the two youngest claimants.
'Atmospheric soup''Atmospheric soup'
Some have missing or underdeveloped fingers and three have deformities on their feet. Some of those affected have missing or underdeveloped fingers and three have deformities on their feet.
Among them, is Simone Atkinson who was born with fingers missing from both hands.Among them, is Simone Atkinson who was born with fingers missing from both hands.
The 680-acre British Steel works in the town closed in 1980 with the loss of 10,000 jobs and its buildings were gradually demolished with waste removed to a quarry to the north of the site.The 680-acre British Steel works in the town closed in 1980 with the loss of 10,000 jobs and its buildings were gradually demolished with waste removed to a quarry to the north of the site.
Eighteen children were born with deformities to their hands and feetEighteen children were born with deformities to their hands and feet
The mothers have told the court how they either lived in or regularly visited Corby while pregnant. The mothers told the court how they either lived in or regularly visited Corby while pregnant.
Some have said in evidence that the town seemed "dusty" or "dirty" and David Wilby QC has told Mr Justice Aikenhead the disabilities were caused when the women ingested or inhaled toxic substances. Some said in evidence that the town seemed "dusty" or "dirty" and David Wilby QC told Mr Justice Aikenhead the disabilities were caused when the women ingested or inhaled toxic substances.
One expert told the judge an "atmospheric soup of toxic materials" had hung over Corby during the reclamation works. The borough council had denied the claims and said while it "has a great deal of sympathy with the children and their families", its own expert witnesses were adamant the clear-up was carried out safely and thoroughly.
'No cluster' Following the judgment, David Wilby QC, leading counsel for the claimant children, said: "The defendant has throughout strenuously denied any fault and relied heavily on its expert witnesses to justify its conduct.
But the borough council has denied the claims and said while it "has a great deal of sympathy with the children and their families", its own expert witnesses were adamant the clear-up was carried out safely and thoroughly. "However, without exception, the judge preferred the evidence of the expert witnesses called by the claimants."
Chief executive Chris Mallender has said: "For the past five years we have thoroughly investigated every aspect of the claims they are making and we know that there is no link between the reclamation work that was carried out in Corby, over a period of 20 years, and these children's birth defects.
"Epidemiological data will demonstrate that there is no cluster of cases and that the numbers of children with such deformities is 'normal' for the population."
The judge, who visited the site during the hearing, was ruling on whether the council owed a duty of care to the claimants during the clean-up operation.