PTSD

GROUP ACTION FOR POST TRAUMATIC DISORDERS BY FORMER AND SERVING POLICE OFFICERS

A Group Action is being taken against the Chief Constable of the RUC/PSNI. The claim is based on an alleged failure by the Force to deal with the predictable psychological or psychiatric consequences of exposure to horrific or traumatic experiences in the course of an officer's duties.

RUC/PSNI officers have faced many shocking and disturbing experiences. This is not the basis of the claim. The case concerns their support and treatment by their employer afterwards. Due to the number of individual serving and former officers who wished to pursue claims, an Order of the Court on 27th June 2001 established the present Group Action.

This litigation could benefit not only those who presently form part of the Group Action, but many other injured officers who have yet to register a claim. At present there are approximately 3,750 registered claimants.

A trial date has been agreed for October 2005. The Court has also set a cut-off date for the registration of further cases by 1st September 2004.

As the co-ordinating solicitors for this Group Action, we are now required to advertise and publicise the case, so that all those who might benefit have a chance to register their claim. Serving or former police officers who believe that they have suffered psychiatric or psychological injuries as a consequence of the Force's failure to provide effective care following exposure to trauma, or that their injuries have been made worse as a result of such failure must now register as part of this Group Action. The requirements of such registration are simple and, in the first instance, will require only the completion of a form to be submitted to us.

The crucial factor is that unless individuals are registered as part of the Group Action by 1st September 2004, they will not thereafter be permitted to bring any claim in respect of their psychiatric injuries without permission of the Court. In most cases such permission is unlikely to be forthcoming.

This limitation does not, of course, apply to individuals who may unfortunately sustain such injuries, or be diagnosed as suffering from such conditions, after the cut-off date.

The co-ordinating solicitors' details are: Edwards & Co.

28 Hill Street
Belfast
BT1 2LA
Tel. 028 9032 1863