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Asbestos In Armley -The Fight Goes On

John Battle has given a glimmer of hope to hundreds of people claiming compensation for contracting deadly cancer from an asbestos factory.The claimants - many of them suffering the incurable and untreatable lung cancer mesothelioma - have been left in distress after the American firm which owns the company responsible for the factory declared itself bankrupt.

Compensation cheques to victims who have won their claims have bounced, court cases have been frozen and no new claims can be taken out.But now John Battle is meeting solicitors representing claimants, who are victims of the J W Roberts asbestos factory, which was in Armley Leeds. He plans to raise their case in the House of Commons and with insurance underwriters.

The J W Roberts asbestos factory closed in 1958 but left a deadly legacy among its workforce, their families and people who lived nearby.They breathed in tiny asbestos particles which cause the incurable cancer mesothelioma. The illness can take 50 years to show itself and is usually diagnosed only in its final stages.

Armley resident June Hancock was diagnosed with the disease in 1994, she sued the firm's owner Turner and Newall and lived just long enough to win her three-year court battle for compensation. Mrs Hancock died soon after receiving £65,000 in compensation, but her determination paved the way for hundreds more claims from victims.

Former Armley residents from as far away as Australia launched claims. Hundreds are still in the pipeline.

Turner and Newall was later taken over by US-based firm Federal Mogul. Federal Mogul faces thousands of claims from asbestos victims in the States and has now declared itself bankrupt under their weight. It has used US legislation known as Chapter 11 bankruptcy to "ringfence" its assets and continue trading while unable to meet the claims.

John Battle was due to meet solicitor Adrian Budgen today."As far as I am concerned the campaign which June Hancock led is not over," said John Battle. "I am meeting Adrian Budgen, I am approaching the insurance underwriters and if necessary I will be asking the Government to help."It is wrong for the people who have made so much money out of those who worked in the industry to run away from their resposiblities."

© Peter Lazenby - Yorkshire Evening Post 29th October 2001.

• View Menu In Large Print • Asbestos In Armley • Asbestos In Armley -The Fight Goes On • Armley Asbestos Adjournment Debate, 10th Jan 2002 • John Battle's contributions to the House of Commons debate on asbestos 16th January 2002 • John Battle MP still championing cause for mesothelioma victims • A War Of Attrition • Asbestos Companies Off The Hook • Tribute to brave June's battle for justice over asbestos dust • John Battle MP Advises Asbestos Victims To Ignore Federal Mogul Direct Appeal • John was quoted in a Guardian article on 16 Sep 2004 about mesothelioma • John Battle in Hansard on Asbestos in Armley - 1988 • Hansard 8 July 1992 - Asbestos Pollution (Armley) • Hansard 21 February 1994 - Mesothelioma Deaths (Leeds) • Emergency Debate On Asbestos • Leeds MP says battle will continue for Asbestos Widows • MP welcomes new help for mesothelioma sufferers • John Battle MP's welcome for mesothelioma drug ruling

• Asbestos Action Group • West Yorkshire Asbestos Action Group • June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund