My father, Christopher Larkin, died from mesothelioma and I can say from personal experience of watching him suffer that it is a horrific illness. Cape’s statement in your excellent article (UK asbestos firm owners “‘whitewashing reputation”’ with All Blacks sponsorship, 27 July) proudly asserts that its offer in response to the Asbestos Victims Support Groups Forum’s demand for atonement went “above and beyond our legal responsibilities” to pay compensation.
Paying compensation for negligently exposing people to asbestos is nothing to be proud of, and trumpeting about the millions of pounds paid in compensation for so many shameful, needless deaths is an absolute insult to sufferers and to bereaved families.
It isn’t empathy for the dying that is wanted from Cape, it is £10m to make a real difference to medical research into this dreadful disease. As a daughter bereaved by mesothelioma, I would say that would be something to be proud of – and would go a long way in atoning for knowingly putting people in danger of exposure to asbestos.
Hannah Larkin
London
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