Marines Settle Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit

A group of 256 Royal Marines and soldiers has reached an out-of-court settlement with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) regarding alleged asbestos exposure. The claims stemmed from two exercises, Saber Strike 18 and Baltic Protector 19, conducted in Latvia in 2018 and 2019. A sample collected by a marine during these exercises reportedly contained asbestos fibres.

The service members alleged that the MoD breached their human rights by knowingly exposing them to asbestos at the Skrunda-1 training site. While the MoD has not admitted liability, they have implemented measures to prevent similar issues and banned further use of the site. The settlement includes provisions for further compensation should any individuals develop asbestos-related diseases.

An inquiry found that exercise planners were aware of the asbestos presence at Skrunda-1, with reports dating back to June 2018 and April 2019 detailing the hazard. However, troops were reportedly not adequately briefed. One former Marine, Edward Hill, who initiated the case, expressed disappointment over the lack of accountability but was content with the settlement, highlighting the ongoing uncertainty of developing related illnesses.

The MoD has updated its policies on asbestos management following the inquiry's recommendations. The settlement also follows a previous case where veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma received significant compensation, with over £125 million paid out since 2016.