Corkman in €190k asbestos award

A MAN who died of cancer two years ago was exposed to asbestos over a six-month period 40 years ago and yesterday his family was awarded €190,000 compensation.

The case was brought by Anne Carroll, widow of John Carroll, late of Harbour View Road, Knocknaheeny, Cork, who died in April 2009, at the age of 61. He had been exposed to asbestos during a six-month period of work at Cork Dockyard in 1971.

The plaintiff’s senior counsel, Andrew Sexton, said the deceased worked in a number of places, including a brief period at Cork Dockyard in 1971.

“In April 2009 he died of cancer. Notwithstanding the length of time involved, they were able to link it back to a brief period working in an asbestos environment. To trace the company was an achievement in itself down to the tenacious approach of the solicitor (Cathal Lombard)”, Mr Sexton said.

The settlement offer in the case was made by defendant company, Cape Ireland Ltd, of City Quay, Dublin, and formerly Cape Insulation (Ireland) Ltd.

The settlement, approved by Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne, went to Ms Carroll, who has five adult children.

While the judge approved the settlement, it was subject to the signing of waivers by members of the wider family in respect of €25,000 of the total.

Ms Justice Dunne said she appreciated it was difficult for Ms Carroll to come to court to deal with such financial matters when it had arisen out of the loss of a loved one.