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Barrister resigns from injuries board

Friday 17 December 1993 01:02 GMT
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A SENIOR barrister has resigned from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in protest at the 'outrageous changes' proposed by the Government.

Martin Thomas QC, of Wrexham, who is also president of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, had been a board member since 1985. But he has resigned in order to fight the proposals and has called on all parties to unite to defeat them.

Mr Thomas claims that instead of paying out damages and compensation on the basis of common law - as if a victim of crime had taken civil action - a White Paper is proposing 25 bands which do not distinguish between individuals and their personal circumstances.

And he is particularly angry at the proposal that in future no compensation should be paid for loss of earnings and earning capacity.

He said that under the proposals a fireman who recently received pounds 95,000 compensation would receive only pounds 5,000. The widow of a murder victim would get a pounds 10,000 lump sum with no consideration for loss of earnings, which could be anything up to pounds 200,000.

'I am convinced that these Treasury-led changes are to save money and will not provide a better service to victims,' Mr Thomas said.

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