15/04/2008

Wounded Iraqi Teen Receives £2 Million Payout

An Iraqi teenager who suffered severe spinal injuries when he was accidentally shot by a British solider is to receive a £2 million compensation payout, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was left paralysed by the incident, which occurred in September 2003 when he was 13.

The incident happened when a soldier, whom he had befriended, accidentally dropped his gun, which then discharged.

The Iraqi later moved to the UK where he launched a civil claim for negligence at the High Court.

However, the move looks set to spark controversy, because the payout is far more than the maximum level given to British servicemen and women wounded in the line of duty.

Under the Armed Forces Compensation scheme, the maximum amount that wounded personnel can receive is £285,000.

However, the Ministry of Defence said that the case was "exceptional". A spokesperson said: "It is not expected that there are any other cases of such severity."

The MoD also stressed that the most seriously injured troops also receive a guaranteed lifetime income payment under the compensation scheme and stressed that the payout announced today was a one-off.

(KMcA/JM)

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