// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Royal Marines and soldiers settle MoD asbestos claim
Royal Marines from 45 Commando were on Exercise Saber Strike in Latvia in 2018 when they were allegedly exposed to asbestos
A group of 256 Royal Marines and soldiers, who claimed the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had "knowingly" exposed them to asbestos, have settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.
Court proceedings were issued against the MoD in February 2024 by the group, from Plymouth and Scotland, claiming their employer had breached the Human Rights Act.
The potential exposure was said to have taken place in Latvia in 2018 and 2019 over two exercises, with a sample collected by a marine at the time found to contain asbestos.
The MoD, which did not accept liability, said action had been taken to "prevent similar issues arising in the future" and further use of the non-MoD training site had been prohibited.
Royal Marines took part in two military exercises in Latvia in 2018 and 2019 at an abandoned former Soviet town called Skrunda-1
An MoD spokesperson added: "Our people make extraordinary sacrifices to keep our country safe, often operating in challenging environments around the world, and their health, safety and wellbeing will always be our highest priority."
Former Plymouth Royal Marine Edward Hill, who first logged the case in 2019, said while he was disappointed there had been "no accountability" the group were overall "happy with the settlement".
"We now have to live our lives not knowing whether we're going to contract an asbestos-related illness," he said.
Another former Royal Marine previously told the BBC it felt like someone had "potentially handed me an unnecessary death sentence".