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Porton Down veterans offered £3m Porton Down veterans offered £3m
(about 5 hours later)
The Ministry of Defence is preparing to award £3m in compensation to 360 veterans of nerve gas experiments at Porton Down, the BBC has learned.The Ministry of Defence is preparing to award £3m in compensation to 360 veterans of nerve gas experiments at Porton Down, the BBC has learned.
The ex-servicemen say they were duped into taking part in what they thought were cold remedy tests at the Wiltshire research centre in the 1950s and 1960s.The ex-servicemen say they were duped into taking part in what they thought were cold remedy tests at the Wiltshire research centre in the 1950s and 1960s.
About 90% of them have agreed to accept payment of £8,300 each and an apology.About 90% of them have agreed to accept payment of £8,300 each and an apology.
But others say the MoD is bullying them by insisting everyone accepts the offer before it pays out. It denies this.But others say the MoD is bullying them by insisting everyone accepts the offer before it pays out. It denies this.
Cold remediesCold remedies
The long-running legal claim against the MoD has been pursued by ex-servicemen who were recruited as volunteers to test cold remedies at the government's Porton Down laboratories.The long-running legal claim against the MoD has been pursued by ex-servicemen who were recruited as volunteers to test cold remedies at the government's Porton Down laboratories.
In fact, many of the soldiers were given forms of the sarin nerve agent developed by the Nazis in World War II.In fact, many of the soldiers were given forms of the sarin nerve agent developed by the Nazis in World War II.
There was very high pressure to sign - threats basically: 'Take it or leave it' Derek Shenton, nerve gas victimThere was very high pressure to sign - threats basically: 'Take it or leave it' Derek Shenton, nerve gas victim
Many say they have suffered a lifetime of ill-health, including skin diseases and psychological problems, as a result of their exposure to the gas.Many say they have suffered a lifetime of ill-health, including skin diseases and psychological problems, as a result of their exposure to the gas.
Now, after a campaign lasting many years, the MoD is offering £3m compensation and an apology to settle the legal case. Now, after a campaign lasting many years, the MoD is offering £3m compensation and an apology in an unprecedented out of court settlement.
The exact terms of the apology are still under discussion and the MoD says they will remain confidential until negotiations are concluded.The exact terms of the apology are still under discussion and the MoD says they will remain confidential until negotiations are concluded.
Some of the men have refused the MoD's offer, saying the flat fee of £8,000 is insufficient.Some of the men have refused the MoD's offer, saying the flat fee of £8,000 is insufficient.
One veteran, Derek Shenton, from Hampshire, said although he had accepted the deal, the MoD was still refusing to pay out because others had refused to sign the agreement.One veteran, Derek Shenton, from Hampshire, said although he had accepted the deal, the MoD was still refusing to pay out because others had refused to sign the agreement.
Leading Aircraftman Ronald Maddison died at the base in 1953Leading Aircraftman Ronald Maddison died at the base in 1953
He said: "There was very high pressure to sign - threats basically: 'Take it or leave it'.He said: "There was very high pressure to sign - threats basically: 'Take it or leave it'.
"But once the Ministry of Defence got my signature, they came back and said 'because there's these various people who have decided to go missing, we are not going to pay you until we have got their signatures'."But once the Ministry of Defence got my signature, they came back and said 'because there's these various people who have decided to go missing, we are not going to pay you until we have got their signatures'.
"The whole thing is disgraceful.""The whole thing is disgraceful."
The MoD denied it was putting any pressure on the veterans. The MoD has denied any suggestion of coercion.
But it has faced increasing calls to act since an independent review looking at the ethics of the Porton Down experiments.
Additional pressure has been brought by the 400-strong Porton Down Veterans Group, which has taken legal action over ill health suffered by its members.
Unlawfully killedUnlawfully killed
Between 1939 and 1989, hundreds of servicemen took part in experiments at Porton Down.Between 1939 and 1989, hundreds of servicemen took part in experiments at Porton Down.
The Crown Prosecution Service carried out a review of the testing after a 2004 inquest ruled that aircraftsman Ronald Maddison, of Consett, County Durham, who died in 1953, had been unlawfully killed. Only one other Porton Down case has resulted in compensation.
But in 2006 the CPS decided there was insufficient evidence to prosecute any of the scientists involved. That was for 20-year-old aircraftsman Ronald Maddison, of Consett, County Durham.
Mr Maddison's family, who were awarded £100,000 in compensation after the inquest's ruling, say the 20-year-old went to Porton Down believing he would be taking part in tests to find a cure for the common cold. Back in 1953, he volunteered to take part in what he believed to be a test for a cold cure.
But he was exposed to the lethal nerve agent sarin and died within an hour. Within an hour of having sarin dabbed on his arm at the Salisbury Plain laboratory, he was dead.
The MoD paid £100,000 in compensation to Mr Maddison's family but only after mounting an unsuccessful legal challenge against a 2004 inquest into his death, which ruled he had been unlawfully killed.