Mesothelioma widow supports change to UK asbestos law
Tony Carlin, the former mayor of Londonderry, died of mesothelioma at the age of 56 in 2003. Since then, his widow, Mary Carlin, has been actively campaigning with the Victims of Asbestos North West Group.
Mrs. Carlin has stated that she supports Finance Minister Nigel Dodds’ recommendation to change the law and allow for victims of pleural plaques to seek compensation for their injuries. While pleural plaques are small area of benign scarring caused by asbestos exposure, they can indicate an increased risk of developing deadlier asbestos-related diseases like asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Changing the law would allow individuals who suffer from pleural plaques to seek compensation for the injuries they have suffered, most often due to negligence in the workplace. Mrs. Carlin said that people with pleural plaques can have severe breathing problems that require medication. They can also suffer from a poorer quality of life. She has been contacted by four men with pleural plaques since the beginning of the year.
Finance Minister Dodds has stated that the dangers of asbestos are widely known, and he has heard the individual testimonies of men who have been diagnosed with pleural plaques. He said that, although no one can go back in time to prevent the asbestos exposure, its consequences can be acknowledged and addressed. By allowing the victims of pleural plaques to seek compensation, he hopes that the law can provide them some relief and reduce their distress.
For the full story, go to Londonderry Sentinel.
