Seven years on: Victims of 7/7 London bombings are still waiting for payouts

 
London Bombings
21 May 2012

Four victims of the July 7 London bombings are still awaiting compensation for their injuries — almost seven years after the atrocities.

Three survivors are yet to have their cases settled while one has not received a penny.

Figures obtained from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority show that the three waiting for a full settlement are appealing over the size of their awards.

It comes after dozens of victims and families of the bereaved complained over the lengthy delays to compensation payouts, and many attacked the “paltry” sums offered for life-changing injuries.

One victim, Stuart Bell, today called for “urgent reforms” to the system, saying delays would add to the “trauma already suffered” by those who survived.

Mr Bell, driving the Piccadilly line Tube train when the bomb went off at Russell Square, ran to the aid of dozens who died or were injured.

The trauma he suffered left him unable to work for almost a year. The 60-year-old from Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, had to appeal twice before he received just over £4,000 for his psychological injuries.

“To have this hanging over you for seven years is quite traumatic,” he said. “These people will have no closure. When I appealed twice for compensation it just added more stress to what I was going through.”

Mr Bell added: “It’s not really about the money, it’s about the authorities recognising what you have gone through. With 7/7 they just didn’t seem to care.

"When you get a paltry amount, it’s like you don’t matter, you just feel worthless. These people who are still waiting for a settlement will feel like what they went through isn’t being recognised.”

The CICA said it had paid out £11.5 million in compensation altogether to 648 victims of the bombings. A spokesman said: “We are currently investigating one London bombings case, which we first received last year.

“Three other people have cases with the Tribunals Service, having appealed against our first and review decisions, and all three of those have received interim payments.”

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