Widow fails in suing tobacco giant in 12-year battle

A WIDOW failed yesterday in the first bid in British courts to sue a tobacco giant for the death of her husband from lung cancer.

Alfred McTear was diagnosed in 1992 and started legal action against Imperial Tobacco in January 1993. After his death in March that year at the age of 48, his wife pledged to continue the fight, claiming £500,000 (€738,000) in damages.

But yesterday Judge Nimmo Smith ruled Margaret McTear and her legal team had failed in their bid to find the company liable for his death.