UK Veteran loses post-traumatic stress disorder claim

Ex-soldier loses post-traumatic stress disorder claim
A former soldier from Kidderminster who developed post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in Northern Ireland and Bosnia has lost his battle for damages.


Stephen Hibbert, now 40, had sued the Ministry of Defence for "substantial" compensation in a contested action at the High Court in London over an alleged failure to diagnose his condition in the early 1990s until it was too late to treat.

But on Wednesday Mr Justice Owen, the judge who heard the case, dismissed his claim and said: "One cannot but have the greatest sympathy for the claimant who loyally served his country, earning respect for his determination, enthusiasm and leadership on operational tours of duty in Northern Ireland and Bosnia.

"He is now suffering from a severely disabling psychiatric condition for which the prognosis is very poor. But sadly he is the victim of the stresses to which serving soldiers on operational tours of duty can be exposed, not to any culpable want of care on the part of the defendant (MoD). His claim must be dismissed."

Mr Hibbert's case was that in May 1994 an Army consultant psychiatrist failed to diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder. His condition deteriorated and became "entrenched", said Mr Mansfield, so that by the time he was diagnosed in the autumn of 1996 he was "beyond treatment".
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UK Military:Echo Health - Battle for the Mind

Echo Health - Battle for the Mind
Posted on: Friday, 20 June 2008, 09:00 CDT

By Barry Nelson

Not enough is being done to help psychologically-scarred ex- servicemen after they are discharged. A week before the UK celebrates Veterans' Day, Health Editor Barry Nelson looks at a pilot scheme which aims to help former soldiers, seaman and airmen recover

IMAGINE witnessing an horrific car crash, particularly one in which a close family member was killed or seriously injured. Many people exposed to such a traumatic experience will make a full recovery, but some will bear the psychological scars for years or even decades afterwards. A number may be so disturbed by what they have seen that they may need professional treatment from a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Seeing someone you love die in a road accident is bad enough, but cannot be compared to the cumulative experiences of British soldiers returning from places like Iraq and Afghanistan after spending months in the firing line. With large numbers of British servicemen and women deployed in troublespots around the world, the number of ex-soldiers who are being discharged with significant mental health problems as a result of being exposed to nerve-jangling combat, sniping and kerbside bombs is growing.

And it is not just recent conflicts, Combat Stress, the charity which supports veterans who have been badly affected by their experiences, say they still work with many who were involved in the 30year-old undeclared war with the IRA in Northern Ireland. They are also still seeing new referrals from soldiers, sailors and airmen who fought in the Falklands War, which ended 26 years ago.

The scale of the problem is clear from the figures. In 2000, Combat Stress was contacted by around 300 veterans needing help, advice and support. Last year it was 1,200 and the charity expects this figure to continue to grow.

A major difficulty is that many of the veterans who have the most severe mental health problems as a result of what they have seen are poorly served by existing NHS services.
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UK PTSD: David Bradly 4 life sentences for killing family

Gulf War veteran gets life for executing family

Telegraph.co.uk - United Kingdom

By Paul Stokes
Last Updated: 7:43pm BST 09/04/2008



A former soldier who executed four members of his family with a smuggled handgun has been jailed for at least 15 years.

David Bradley, 43, shot his uncle, aunt and two cousins with the silenced 7.65mm pistol he obtained from a Croat in return for a pack of cigarettes while serving in Bosnia.


Bradley was taken in by his victims at 17

He was said to have been left mentally ill as a result of serving during the troubles in Northern Ireland.

Bradley, who became a cannabis-smoking loner, will only be transferred to prison once doctors deem him sane enough to leave a top security mental hospital.

A judge imposed four life sentences today before the Home Secretary ordered Bradley be detained at Rampton for indefinite treatment.

The severity of his illness means it may never be safe for him to be released.

Bradley, a bachelor, was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder when carried out the five-hour killing spree at the family home 21 months ago.

He was said to have been plagued by nightmares and flashbacks of atrocities he witnessed while serving as a private with a Royal Artillery unit in Ulster.

Paul Sloan QC told Newcastle upon Tyne Crown Court, he was exposed to then common-place shootings and bombings during a tour of duty.



He said: “He was the target of bricks and stones thrown by rioters. On one occasion a grenade was thrown at his squad but failed to explode.

"He witnessed the gruesome mutilation of a rioter when a bomb exploded in hand before it was thrown. And later in Bosnia he came under fire.”

Bradley never told military authorities about his problems but found himself living in constant fear, unable to sleep and resorting to solo binge-drinking and smoking cannabis to relax.

He was discharged from the Army in 1995 with an exemplary record but was unable to find a job.

He sought medical help but failed to take prescribed drugs.

UK:Combat Stress Charity Gets Help From Louise Williams

Louise's help for the troops



Louise Williams is collecting at her
market stall to help a
little-known services charity
080653


By Paul Derrick

A SCARBOROUGH market worker is raising funds and awareness for a charity, which helps former servicepeople suffering from psychological injury.

Louise Williams, 34, says she wants to help Combat Stress, The Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society, because not enough is being done to raise awareness for the charity.

She is running a collection box for the charity at her children’s clothes stall, Lucky Imps, in the Market Hall and has nine other boxes available for people if they want to do their own fundraising.

Miss Williams, of Herdborough Road, said: “Combat Stress is very important for a lot of troops at the moment. There needs to be more help for them so they can get the right treatment and support.

“I just want people to learn a bit more about the charity and see what’s going on with the Forces and what they have to deal with.”

Her partner John Chidlow, 37, was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder after serving as a Royal Engineer in Iraq, Bosnia, Northern Ireland and Sierra Leone and went to Combat Stress for help.
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6 Tours in Northern Ireland and 2 in Bosnia Vet and family suffer

Ex-soldier assaulted wife
Feb 7 2008 by Andrew Pugh, Neath Guardian

A FORMER soldier used as a human shield after being taken hostage by Bosnian troops has pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife and police.

It is the second time that 41-year-old David Storey has pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife in the last five months.

He is also being investigated over allegations he assaulted his daughter last year.

His wife, Helen, of Moorland Road, has now started divorce proceedings.

In a statement read to the court she said: “The last few years have been hell for me and my daughter. I just want a quiet life.”

Storey, now residing at his brother’s home in Port Talbot, received two commendations for bravery during his 23 years of Army service.

He has served six tours in Northern Ireland and two in Bosnia.

The court heard that he began displaying classic symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder and was diagnosed with the illness toward the end of last year.

In August, Storey pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife at their home, leaving her with cuts and bruises around one eye.

In the latest incident at 1.20pm on January 29, police were called to Moorland Road.

They arrived to find Ms Storey standing in the street outside her home.

The couple were arguing when she opened the door and demanded he leave – but he instead threw her out and locked the door.

After they arrived police could hear banging from inside the house and found Storey had barricaded himself in.

They eventually got inside the house and a struggle broke out.

Storey wrestled one of the officers to the ground and threw a punch which didn’t connect.

At this point neighbours had began gathering outside before he was eventually arrested.

Stephen Harrett, defending, said, : “If you look at the defendant’s record you can see has not committed an offence until 2007.

“Quite clearly there’s a difficulty causing him to offend”.

Mr Harrett went on to describe how Storey was diagnoed with post traumatic stress disorder towards the end of last year.

Magistrates adjourned the case until February to allow an all-options report to be prepared.
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