My friends at Thompsons have backed the family of a solider who was killed when an RAF Nimrod exploded over Afghanistan.  Like many people, I thought that if a soldier was injured, it should be quite straightforward to claim compensation.  However on this occasion the Ministry of Defence apparently made the claim for compensation as difficult as possible.

Sadly Lance Corporal Oliver Dicketts, of the Parachute Regiment, died with 13 others when the nimrod blew up in 2006 just minutes after mid-air refuelling.

A court action was raised following his death and his parents were awarded £100,000 compensation each by a jury.  In 2007 the MoD accepted 100% liability and advised that compensation would be paid to all of the families as quickly as possible however this has not bee the case.  The families have advised that the MoD and their lawyers have made the process as difficult as possible for everyone.

The amount of compensation that was awarded to Mr and Mrs Dickets by the jury was the maximum amount of compensation that they could have received.