British victims of terrorism win over £1 million from Turkish Government
01 October 2009
A family of six left seriously injured after the bombing of a
holiday resort in Turkey have been awarded over £1 million in
financial support by the Turkish authorities. This follows a
four year campaign which has seen the UK Government fail to help
British citizens injured by terrorist attacks abroad.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme which compensates
victims of terrorism in the UK does not extend to cover citizens
caught up in terrorist attacks abroad, unlike schemes in many other
European countries. Despite calls for changes to the scheme,
including the tabling of a Private Members Bill in the House of
Lords, seriously injured victims of terrorist attacks abroad have
been left with little or no financial support.
On 16th July 2005, the family from Durham were on their way to
the beach whilst on holiday in Turkey when they became the targets
of a terrorist bomber. The minibus in which they were travelling
had a bomb placed beneath the seats. It is thought that the
terrorist had got off the bus, leaving the bomb behind.
The bomb exploded and carnage ensued. Helyn Bennett was killed.
Her fiancé, Stephen Stables, together with other members of the
family, including Mickey Aspinall, Toni Punshon, Stephen Stables
and two of the family’s children were seriously injured. Because
the bombs were beneath the seats, many of the injuries were to the
legs and they also suffered burns, head injuries, deafness and loss
of sight. All surviving members of the family were placed in
intensive care and required surgery.
The case had been referred to
Jill Greenfield, a personal
injury partner at Field Fisher Waterhouse, by another
law firm. Jill was already involved in a campaign to try to force
the British Government to bring in a scheme to help British Victims
of Terrorism Abroad; something that the British Government have
still to do.
It was initially difficult to see what, apart from the campaign,
could be done to help the family, however there was then a
breakthrough and the possibility of a claim against the Turkish
Authorities, through the discovery of a little known scheme. It
offered potentially little to the family but it was felt
worthwhile. A long and difficult legal battle ensued with the
Turkish Authorities. Initial awards of a few thousand pounds were
rejected and an appeal was launched in Turkey. Turkish lawyers were
retained and Mark
Bowman, a personal injury solicitor at Field Fisher
Waterhouse, assisted Jill Greenfield.
The family have finally been awarded GBP 1,099,531.94 between
them in compensation, giving much needed financial security. We
understand that this is the first case where a British victim of
terrorism abroad has successfully, through litigation, pursued a
claim for financial support against a foreign Government.
Jill Greenfield, personal injury partner at Field Fisher
Waterhouse said: “This is a unique case. The initial idea to pursue
the claim against the Turkish Government was a long shot and there
were very many procedural hurdles along the way. We worked with a
Turkish law firm to help. This had not been done before and we knew
it would be complicated litigation. The UK Government had done
little to help this family except offer sympathy. Sympathy doesn’t
pay the bills. It is extremely rewarding to know that the family
will now not have to worry about how to pay their bills and
mortgages, thanks to the Turkish Government.”
Speaking on behalf of her family Sharon Holden said: “It has
been a long fight to gain compensation for the injuries and trauma
suffered by my family and the death of my daughter, Helyn. It is
the Turkish authorities, not the UK Government that have finally
given us the financial support we need.”
Axa Legal Expense Insurers funded the action.
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contact:
Louise Eckersley, PR Manager,
on 020 7861 4120.