Marine with brain injury receives payout from Ministry of Defence

Posted 15/02/2011

A former Royal Marine who was left on the brink of suicide following a car crash has been awarded personal injury compensation from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) following a lengthy legal battle.

Steward Daglish, now 39, was a passenger in a Land Rover during a training exercise in Scotland in January 1994, the Journal Live reports.

The vehicle crashed into a cliff and overturned, leaving the serviceman with severe head injuries.

These caused a “chronic personality disorder” which meant Mr Daglish now needs 24-hour care to cope with his psychotic symptoms.

With the assistance of his parents John and Mary, Mr Daglish took legal action against the MoD, which originally argued that it was not responsible for his mental problems.

However, following a hearing in 2004, the organisation admitted liability and this week agreed to a multi-million pound compensation payout to cover the former Marine’s long-term care.

This comes after the MoD was recently ordered to pay £1.7 million to paratrooper Sergeant Stuart Pearson, who lost his leg serving in Afghanistan.

Simon Davis, a Ashtons Legal partner who specialises in personal injury claims, comments: “It is easy to forget that the psychological scars from trauma can remain long after the physical injuries are healed. It is important that any compensation reflects the care needed throughout a person’s life.”