Birth defect victims win ‘toxic soup’ liable action

A GROUP of young British people who blame their birth defects on their mothers’ exposure to “an atmospheric soup of toxic materials” have won a landmark ruling that a council was negligent in its reclamation of an old steelworks site.

Yesterday’s High Court decision clears the way for 16 successful claimants, aged between 11 and 22, to prove that their disabilities were caused by Corby Borough Council’s failings – with compensation to follow if they succeed.

Mr Justice Akenhead’s finding that there were no breaches of duty after August 1997 means that two others, aged nine and 10, cannot proceed with their cases.