“For many soldiers, the Army’s cavalier treatment of them following an injury can have a far worse impact than the injury itself” says his solicitor A 29 year old soldier has secured an out of court settlement of £420,000 as a result of damage to his hearing which resulted in him having to give up…
A long-serving soldier who was convinced he was going to die after a terrifying mid-air ordeal has settled his claim against the Ministry of Defence for hundreds of thousands of pounds. Soldier B, who joined the army in 2002, was one of 187 passengers in a RAF Voyager aircraft flying from RAF Brize Norton to…
The Royal British Legion today launched a mass movement to say ‘Thank You’ to all who served, sacrificed, and changed our world during the First World War. With 100 days to go until 11 November, the charity is calling on mass involvement from the public to mark the centenary of the end of the First…
Hilary Meredith Solicitors has promoted military specialist Simon Quinn to Partner and Head of Military Claims (North). Simon joined Hilary Meredith Solicitors in 2009 and was made an Associate in 2014. During his time at the firm, he has developed a particular specialism in Non-Freezing Cold Injury (NFCI) claims, recently securing one of the highest…
The public perception that most Servicemen and women are damaged by their service is wrong, according to a Report by the House of Commons Defence Committee on the extent of mental illness among Armed Forces personnel. The Report says that the vast majority of veterans leave with no mental damage, and suggestions to the contrary…
An Army captain has been jailed for 18 months after a soldier was killed during a live firing exercise. Capt Jonathan Price was also dismissed from the Army by the court martial for the gross negligence manslaughter of Ranger Michael Maguire. The 21-year-old was hit by a stray bullet at the Castlemartin Range, Pembrokeshire in…
Congratulations to Stuart Andrew MP on his appointment as Under Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence with responsibility for procurement, a position first held by Philip Dunne MP (2015-2016) and then, more recently, by Harriett Baldwin MP 2016-2018. The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State is responsible for the Equipment Plan, defence industry and…
Cpl Darren Neilson was killed alongside Cpl Matthew Hatfield, when a tank exploded during a live firing exercise in the UK. Clare Stevens from Hilary Meredith Solicitors represented Cpl Darren Neilson’s wife, Jemma Neilson at the Inquest into his death. She said: “Yet again we’ve heard of systemic failings within the MOD and more evidence…
Hilary Meredith Solicitors has secured a settlement worth almost £7.2 million on behalf of a Navy pilot who suffered catastrophic injuries during the course of his duties. The pilot had landed his Merlin helicopter on the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious at night-time, and was completing his post-flight inspection, when the flight deck lift was opened…
Broughton House, the Salford home for ex-servicemen and women, has strengthened its board with the appointment of Hilary Meredith as a trustee. For more than 30 years, Hilary has dedicated her career to the welfare of armed forces service personnel, their families and military veterans. She chairs Hilary Meredith Solicitors, which has offices in Wilmslow…
In a letter to leaked to the press, it has emerged that Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has backed an amnesty for IRA killers as the price for ending the witch-hunt of historic prosecutions against British troops serving in Northern Ireland during The Troubles. The witch hunt against our veterans needs to stop but a statute…
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson yesterday visited Broughton House and praised the care it provides to veterans and its vision for the future. The Defence Secretary met with veterans, staff and board members during his tour and learned more about Broughton House’s redevelopment plans. The two-acre site is to be transformed into a Veterans’ Care Village…
The countdown continues to Armed Forces Day 2018, which takes place this Saturday 30 June. Armed Forces Day is a chance to show your support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving troops to Service families, veterans and cadets. There are many ways for people, communities and…
Hilary Meredith is seeking clarification from the Ministry of Justice on how their revised guidelines for bereaved families receiving public funding at Inquests impact on the armed forces community. Legal aid is currently provided under the government’s exceptional case funding (ECF) scheme. The Ministry of Justice says the Lord Chancellor’s guidance now makes clear that…
I welcome the MoJ’s announcement that guidance for its legal aid safety net will be amended to make it easier for families of people who have died in custody to receive public funding. Legal aid is currently provided under the government’s exceptional case funding (ECF) scheme. However, the Lord Chancellor’s guidance now makes clear that…
Last week I outlined my proposals for new legislation to protect service personnel and veterans from prosecution in the line of duty. In recent times military service personnel have been exposed to individual prosecution like never before – in particular historic cases from Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland. Whilst each set of circumstances and reasons…
Hilary Meredith has outlined proposals for new legislation to protect service personnel and veterans from prosecution in the line of duty. Hilary, Chair of Hilary Meredith Solicitors Ltd and Visiting Professor of Law and Veterans’ Affairs at the University of Chester, has been working with a range of service personnel, veterans, charities, academics and politicians…
Support is growing for the introduction of a statute of limitations preventing the prosecution of army veterans for historic offences – but there remains a great deal of work to be done. In his final speech before moving to Brussels to become chairman of NATO’s Military Committee, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach today told…
Corporate Joshua Hoole, a soldier with the British Army, died at the age of 26 whilst on an army fitness test in 2016. He was engaged in heavy training on Brecon Beacons in excessively high temperatures. Fellow troops became ill due to the intensive heat and it was clear that these were extraordinary circumstances in…
I was honoured to attend the City of London Solicitors’ Company’s Royal Charter celebration at the Guildhall last night. The company received its Royal Charter in 1957 and the current Master’s year therefore sits across the 60th Anniversary of the grant of the Charter. To recognise this, Liverymen and Freemen were invited to attend a…