FAMILIES of British soldiers killed and injured fighting in Iraq have been given the go-ahead to bring compensation claims against the Government.
The Supreme Court – the highest court in the UK – ruled that damages claims could be launched under legislation covering negligence and human rights.
Lawyers representing relatives said the ruling meant that the Ministry of Defence owed a duty of care to properly equip servicemen and women who went to war.
One woman whose son was killed said the decision was "absolutely brilliant".
However, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said he was concerned about the implications and warned that the ruling could "make it more difficult" for troops to carry out operations.
Legal action was brought by relatives of three men killed by roadside bombs while in Snatch Land Rovers – nicknamed the "mobile coffin" because it was lightly armoured, and another killed while in a Challenger tank.
At least 37 UK soldiers have died in conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan while travelling in the Snatch Land Rover.
Sue Smith, whose 21-year-old son was killed in July 2005, said: "They can no longer treat soldiers as sub-human with no rights."
However, Mr Hammond said: "I am very concerned at the wider implications of this judgment, which could ultimately make it more difficult for our troops to carry out operations and potentially throws open a wide range of military decisions to the uncertainty of litigation."
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