A STROUD man has received £18,000 in damages for asbestos exposure alongside a court order that leaves the door open for him to make future claims.

AFTER years of asbestos exposure from working with different companies, David Sweeney has received £18,000 in damages.

Mr Sweeney, of Salmon Springs, also has a court order which will leave the door open for him to make future financial claims should his health deteriorate as a result of asbestos exposure.

He obtained the damages against his former employers, Hygrotherm Engineering Limited, Bradford, Dalgety Limited, London, ABM Chemical Limited, Watford and Rhodia Limited, Watford.

The family’s solicitor, Brigitte Chandler of Swindon law firm, Charles Lucas & Marshall and one of the UK’s leading experts in asbestos litigation, said it was important in cases where people developed pleural thickening of the lungs to apply for provisional damages with the right to return to court to seek further legal redress.

“Mr Sweeney was an international fencer and his participation in the sport has been curtailed because of his disability,” said Brigitte Chandler.

“He is at risk of developing mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure and the Court has given him the right to return for more damages if this happens or if his illness deteriorates to above 60% disability.

“Mr Sweeney was in good health until he started to develop breathlessness in 2009.”

Mr Sweeney was employed by Hygrotherm between 1965 and 1970 and between 1971 and 1999 by Dalgety Limited, ABM Chemicals and Rhodia. He initially worked as a laboratory assistant and later became a plant manager.

During the course of his employment he had extensive asbestos exposure. At Hygrotherm he was requested to mix asbestos powder with water to put over pipes.

In his employment with the other defending companies he was working in a factory where all the pipe work was lagged with asbestos and part of the plant was made of asbestos. When he was exposed he was not given any masks, protective clothing or warnings.

“Many of the old factories back in the 1960s, 70s and 80s had asbestos in them,” added Brigitte Chandler.

“It was either in the walls, ceilings, floors, pipe work and in the boiler rooms. Anybody who is suffering from breathlessness and has been exposed to asbestos should seek advice from their GP.”

The Swindon and South West Asbestos Group is a regional charity formed to provide free of charge support groups and information to asbestos sufferers and their partners.

For further information call 01793 532995, email info@asbestosgroup.co.uk, or visit www.asbestosgroup.co.uk