Family Appeal For Answers

28/04/2011

The devastated daughter of a woman who died from mesothelioma is appealing for her mother’s former work colleagues to come forward to help in her family’s battle for justice.

Devoted mother of three, grandmother of seven and great grandmother of two, Catherine Liggins, of Colwyn Bay, North Wales, was 85 when she died in March 2010 from mesothelioma - a cancer caused by exposure to deadly asbestos dust.

Now her daughter, Lynda Gledhill, 62, who lives in Rhos-On-Sea, and her lawyer, Katrina London, asbestos specialist at Irwin Mitchell solicitors in Manchester, is appealing for people who may have worked with her mum at Fairfield Mabey shipyard on the River Wye, Chepstow, to get in touch.

Katrina said: “Catherine – known by many of her family and friends as Pat (Patricia) - worked for Fairfield Mabey as a Welder’s mate between 1941 and 1945 and before she died recalled a time when sheets of asbestos were dropped off at the quayside, and were used as insulation in tankers in the ships. She also recalled how her hair and overalls were thick with dust after she finished her shift.

“The sad fact is that many workers in the 1940s were exposed to asbestos through no fault of their own. They often developed serious, debilitating health problems in later life as was tragically the case for Catherine.

“We are very keen to talk to anyone with information about working at the shipyard during the time Catherine was there, and are keen to find out more about how she may have come into contact with asbestos.”

Catherine’s daughter, Lynda, said: “Mum worked hard all her life and deserved to enjoy her twilight years with her family who miss her terribly. As a family we want answers and for justice to be done so we can try to move on with our lives as best we can.”

She continues: “Nothing will bring mum back, but if we can help to save lives by sharing our story, we won’t have lost her in vain, which is why I want to compel employers to take the role of protecting their workers more seriously, and to do everything they can to make workplaces safe so that no one else suffers like me and my family have.

“Mum was such a caring person; she would have wanted to help other people as much as she could.”

Katrina adds: “Thousands of people die from mesothelioma every year as a result of negligence many years ago by their employers even though the dangers of asbestos were known from at least the early part of the last century.

“It’s unacceptable that anyone should be put in danger through just doing a day’s work and we will fight for justice for each and every client who falls victim to this dreadful disease.”

Anyone who can help with information is asked to contact Katrina London, at Irwin Mitchell’s Manchester office on 0161 838 7262 or email Katrina.london@irwinmitchell.com