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Ex-servicemen, including Fiji nationals, who were exposed to nuclear tests on Christmas Island in the 1950’s have won the right to sue the British Government.
In a 217-page landmark decision last Friday, Justice David Foskett ruled the men could launch a multi-million compensation claim after hearing the three-week case in January, according to British media reports.
The ruling means that the 28 000 ex-servicemen from Fiji, Australia, New Zealand and Britain can sue the Ministry of Defence for radiation exposure.
In earlier hearings, the UK Ministry of Defence had argued the men had waited too long to launch their case and was excluded under the statute of limitations.
However, Justice Foskett said a recent scientific study involving veterans in New Zealand had provided new evidence of the health impacts and proved to be the turning point in the case.
The veterans of the tests in the South Pacific and Australia between 1952 and 1958 now have to prove radiation exposure has caused illness, including cancer and chromosome damage.
It is understood Fiji has 60 survivors from the close to 300 servicemen that were exposed to the test.
