ish Gulf War era --VACCINATED veteran wins GW pension for vaccine injury

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STAY AT HOME SCOT WINS GULF WAR PENSION

http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/page.cfm?objectid=12486788 & method=full & siteid=8\

6024

Dec 29 2002

Soldier was crippled by jabs

Steve Mckenzie

A CRIPPLED Scot has won the right to a Gulf War pension - even

though he was never sent to fight.

Izzet, 32, blames vaccines he was given while preparing for

war with Iraq in 1991 for damaging his immune system.

He suffers from osteoporosis and has twice tried to commit suicide.

He also claims the long- term effects of the jabs led to the breakdown

of his marriage.

Last week, in a groundbreaking ruling, his claim linking the cocktail

of vaccines to his illness was upheld by a pensions appeals tribunal

in Leeds.

He was given the injections to combat the threat of chemical and

biological weapons but was stood down before being posted to the

Gulf. , a former Royal Engineer, said: " I didn't do this just for

the financial benefits, but for the hundreds of soldiers who were

not sent to the Gulf but are seriously ill. "

His victory over the Ministry of Defence is the first time a pensions

appeals tribunal has ruled in favour of a soldier who never saw

active service in the Gulf.

, originally from Cumbernauld but now living in Germany, was

given nine injections. He said: " I asked what they were for and was

told I didn't need to know. I was young and followed orders. "

Doctors diagnosed osteoporosis in 1994 and has not worked

since 1995.

He added: " My life has been completely ruined by illness. I've tried

to commit suicide twice - my condition has not only affected me,

but my family. "

- who has a daughter , 16, and a 12-year-old stepson

Christian - said the tribunal findings came as a huge boost.

He said: " It means I can get more help financially but my main aim

was to try and help others like me. "

Shaun Rusling, of the National Gulf Veterans and Families

Association, said 's victory could open the door to other troops

given the jabs but not sent to war.

He said: " There must be many others like who are still serving

in the forces and don't want to risk their livelihoods going to a

tribunal. "

An MoD spokesman said they had still to decide whether to appeal,

adding: " We cannot comment on individual cases. "

Thanks to Kirt Love for this article!