Sheep dip sufferers continue fight for justice
FARMERS who claim their
lives were blighted by sheep
dip poisoning ramped up their
campaign for justice with the
launch of a new group aimed at
raising awareness of the issue.
The scandal, branded one of the
biggest medical cover ups in
history by members of the newly
formed Sheep Dip Sufferers
Support Group, has been brought
to the attention of MPs including
Shadow Health
Secretary Andy
Burnham.
Mr Burnham,
who was
instrumental in
the launch of
a full inquiry
into the 1989
Hillsborough
football disaster,
told those
campaigning for
justice regarding
organophosphate
(OP) poisoning
to form a single
group in order to
have a stronger,
unified voice.
Warrington
dairy farmer
Tom Rigby, who
is not an OP
Burnley, Lancashire, before exiting
sufferer but has been important
the industry, attended the meeting.
in the formation of the group,
said: “The group is for awareness. He said: “The OP poisoning is
affecting my nervous system
Officially the problem does not
which control everything. I am in
exist so we want people to see it
does exist. There is a reluctance to absolute agony, my mental health
is up and down and eventually I
diagnose.”
will not be able to walk.”
Mr Rigby, who was at the
Members of the group were
initial Sheep Dip Sufferers
Support Group event in Gisburn, hopeful for an adjournment
debate in the House of Commons
Lancashire, last week, said
on the issue of OP poisoning in
awareness and help for people
the coming weeks. Mr Rigby
suffering with a disability was
has also submitted a Freedom o `