Nuclear veterans hand ‘evidence dossier’ to police

A man who was exposed to nuclear tests in the 1950s is calling on police to investigate what he has described as a 74-year injustice.

John Morris, of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, was 18 when he was sent to Christmas Island in the Pacific, where bombs were detonated in a series of infamous tests, and has suffered a range of health problems since.

Now 87, he is part of a group of veterans who have lodged a criminal complaint about the Ministry of Defence (MoD) saying they are “devastated at the way veterans are being denied justice”.

They claim the department’s actions amount to potential misconduct in public office with a cover-up of radiation experiments – a claim the MoD refutes.

Mr Morris said the evidence the veterans have is a “ticking time bomb”.

He said he witnessed the testing of four hydrogen bombs as part of Britain’s effort to demonstrate its nuclear capabilities during the Cold War.

The veterans, alongside the Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, have now handed in a 500-page dossier of evidence, collated by the Mirror newspaper, to the Metropolitan Police.

Mr Morries was dressed in just shorts, a shirt and sunglasses even though he was positioned less than 20 miles (32km) away from the explosion, he told BBC North West Tonight.

He also worked in a laundry, washing contaminated clothing.

“I helped to produce an evil, evil weapon and trust me what I saw will live with me forever,” he said.

Mr Morris was one of about 22,000 military personnel exposed to the nuclear tests.

Many have since died and Mr Morris said many of his troop died from cancer.

He has also had cancer and lost a son at four months old, which he believes was down to his own exposure to radiation.

He claims he was given urine and blood tests and chest x-rays during his time on the island, but said his medical records show no trace of the results.

“I had an x-ray taken before I went to Christmas Island, I had one after I came back. I don’t know why, I don’t know the results of those x-rays and I still don’t know the results,” he said.

He said the MoD would not release the details, which he calls “scandalous”.

Regarding their dossier for the police, Mr Morris said “time is of the essence” as many of the survivors are now in their 80s and taking the case to the police was a “last resort”, but he has grown frustrated with what he feels is a lack of accountability.

The veteran had a meeting with Sir Keir Starmer in 2021 when he was leader of the opposition but is now appealing to meet him as Prime Minister – to make good on what the group believe was a pledge made by the Labour Party.

“All I want is to sit down with Keir Starmer and to find a resolution which will suit the government and the veterans,” he said.

Asked if he also wanted an apology, he said it was “essential”.

Mayor Andy Burnham said: “In my view, there is clear evidence of misconduct in public office and following the 80th anniversary of VE day the investigation of it can wait no longer.”

The MoD said: “The Minister for Veterans and People has commissioned officials to look seriously into unresolved questions regarding medical records as a priority, and this is now under way.

“This work will be comprehensive, and it will enable us to better understand what information the department holds in relation to the medical testing of service personnel who took part in the UK nuclear weapons tests, ensuring that we can be assured that relevant information has been looked at thoroughly.”

The BBC has not received a response from the Prime Minister’s office.