HALTON protesters travelled to London to join a rally outside the House of Lords against a ruling which will leave thousands of families out of pocket. Widows carried photographs of their husbands at the protest, organised by the Halton-based Cheshire Asbestos Victims Support Group (CAVSG). Last Wednesday, law lords announced their decision in the case of Sylvia Barker. It dealt a blow to the compensation hopes to the families of thousands of victims of mesothelioma, the incurable type of asbestos-related cancer. Brian Dellaway, of the CAVSG, said: 'This decision is devastating for mesothelioma victims. 'Those who have worked with asbestos in more than one job will not get full compensation through the courts anymore unless they can find and sue every employer who negligently exposed them to asbestos. 'Most people suffering with mesothelioma who contact our support group in Halton have worked with asbestos in more than one job. 'People moved around within their trade, especially in the building trade. Mesothelioma is affecting younger people than before. 'Victims in their 40s will be leaving young families behind them without any financial security for the future.' Geraldine Coobs, of Manchester solicitors Irwin Mitchell, who represent scores of Halton families, said: 'The courts are penalising the asbestos victims and favouring the interests of the negligent employers and insurers who back them. 'Why should employers who took deadly risks with the lives of their workers, who saved money by not even bothering to take the simple step of providing proper masks to their staff, be allowed to pay reduced compensation payments just because other employers of the same staff took the same risks? 'Employers have been allowed to save money at the expense of workers and their families. 'Typical payments in mesothelioma cases are between £100,000 and £150,000. 'After this terrible ruling, payments will be cut across the board. 'You will see widows receiving as little as £20,000 to compensate them for the loss of their husband's life through asbestos cancer.' My Peter didn't want to die > > > | 
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