Officials of the Ministry of Defence were called traitors because of their plan to lessen the compensation payouts for wounded British soldiers.
The MoD has taken to court their intentions to cut the compensation of two wounded soldiers by up to 70%.
The Court of Appeal is set to hear the legal arguments this week. Currently, British troops are suffering their heaviest casualties in Afghanistan since the war began back in 2001.
The MoD is trying to reverse the ruling that increases the compensation of two seriously wounded soldiers. The injuries of these soldiers led to serious complications.
Lawyers from the Government are bound to insist that MoD compensation should only cover the original injuries suffered by the soldiers. Subsequent complications were out of the equation.
Back in September 2005, Anthony Duncan was shot in the left thigh while he was patrolling with the Light Dragoons in Iraq. His injury required 11 operations. A pin was inserted into his leg in order to fix the damaged bone. However, Duncan’s thigh muscle suffered calcification and put him in serious pain.
An initial payout of ₤9,250 was granted by the ministry. After he appealed, it was increased to ₤46,000 including a permanent weekly income.
Matthew McWilliams of the Royal Marines broke a bone in his thigh during a training exercise. His initial pay was ₤8,250. But after an order from a tribunal, the MoD increased his compensation to ₤28,750. A weekly pay was also awarded to him after his knee was damaged further after surgery.
Last year, the MoD brought the two cases to a higher court where MoD lawyers claimed that the ministry is not liable for medical complications.
