Father-of-two becomes latest to die 'from Northern Ireland Troubles' – 20 years on

Former security guard Stuart Packard, 40, dies of cancer thought to be caused by an IRA bomb

Rioters turn a burning lorry into a barricade in the Divis Flats area of Belfast during The Troubles (Keystone/Getty Image)

A father-of-two is thought to be the latest victim of the Northern Ireland Troubles – 20 years on.

Stuart Packard, a 40-year-old from Essex, died of mesothelioma, the cancer associated with exposure to asbestos.

Mr Packard spent three weeks working as a security guard at the scene of an IRA bomb in Manchester in 1996, according to the Telegraph.

The explosion destroyed buildings within a half-mile radius and injured more than 200 people. Mr Packard is believed to have come into contact with the carcinogenic dust from the aftermath of the blast.

Pictures at the time show workmen in the area wearing protective masks during the clear-up operation as some of the buildings were known to contain asbestos.

Mr Packard’s family believe he was not given the right protective clothing and the law firm Fieldfisher is investigating a possible civil claim for compensation.

The firm is making an appeal for anyone who also worked in the area in during the clean-up who might be able to provide information.