Nov 29 2004

By Andy Shipley, Evening Mail

A FORMER airman who survived horrific medical tests at a secret base today told of his experiences for the first time.

RAF veteran Richard Cursley, from Coleshill, claimed he had needles coated with a chemical pushed into his chest during controversial MoD tests 46 years ago.

And he believes he was exposed to deadly warfare chemical sarin.

He spoke out after an inquest on Ronald Maddison recorded a verdict of death by unlawful killing.

Mr Maddison's family are now expected to sue the MoD in a test case which could pave the way for compensation to fellow veterans of Porton Down military base.

"They used us as guinea pigs knowing what they were doing could kill us," claimed Mr Cursley.

"I read about Maddison and wonder if my dreadful years of bad health are down to that."

Mr Cursley had just turned 20 and was in the second year of his National Service when he arrived at Porton Down after volunteering for the tests on the promise of double pay and extended leave.

"They paid us £3 a week instead of £1.50," said Mr Cursley, now 66. "They were asking for volunteers to participate in harmless tests.

"It was made clear they were chemical tests, but harmless.

"They would take us out for slap up meals at hotels, telling us to eat what we wanted, drink what we wanted and do what we wanted.

"But the locals said Porton Down was a killing field - they were terrified.

The reason for the Wiltshire villagers' fears soon became apparent, said Mr Cursley. First he and the others were injected with Oximes which were being developed as chemical antidotes.

Another day's testing involved having rubber patches stuck to their bodies to test skin irritation of material used in potential anti-chemical warfare suits. But worse was to come. "They coated electrodes on long needles with an ointment and then inserted them.

"I had up to eight needles stuck into my chest and every time I breathed, the needles went in further. The pain was excruciating."

Mr Cursley demobbed and joined Dunlop in Birmingham as a technical assistant.

The father of Adri-anne, now 36, and Paul, 33, is a keen golfer, but has been plagued with poor health for the last 46 years.

Mr Cursley blames his poor health and mood swings for the break-up of his marriage to Lucy, a Brazilian.

He had heart surgery

in 1974, suffered pleurisy and also contracted TB.

"Doctors have not been able to explain my conditions. I've had

insomnia ever since."

Mr Cursley has now joined the Porton Down Veterans' Support Group.

20,000 took part in the tests, says MoD

AN MoD spokesman said more than 20,000 volunteers had taken part in tests at Porton Down since 1916 - though chemical and biological tests were discontinued in the 1980s.

He cited medical assessments of 111 independently selected former volunteers in 2000 which found no link to Porton Down tests and ill-health in later life.

The spokesman added: "We

don't see that the Maddison verdict has a direct bearing on other veterans but we do recognise that some of the volunteers have concerns on health as a result of participating in the tests."

Tragic end to a young life

RONALD Maddison died after having drops of sarin dabbed on his arm at the Porton Down chemical warfare testing facility.

After a 64-day re-hearing, an inquest jury found that he died after "the application of a chemical warfare nerve agent in a non-therapeutic experiment."

Mr Maddison died moments after 200mg of sarin was dabbed on to his arm, the jury heard.

Respiratory failure due to sarin GB toxicity was concluded as the medical cause of the 1953 death.

In 2001 Sir Ian Kennedy, a world-leading professor of ethics, said that researchers were "acting on the edge of their knowledge" when they exposed volunteers to the "uncontrollable danger" of sarin.

Sarin attacks the central nervous system, causing convulsions and death.

Ex-Army ambulance driver Alfred Thornhill was called to help Mr Maddison.

He told the jury: "He was convulsing and foam was coming out of his mouth. "Then he was taken into the medical centre where there were scientists and medical people. "They just threw him on to the bed and gave him a big injection. "It was a terrible atmosphere - they were all panicking."

It's time to admit guilt

THE jury verdict into Ronald Maddison's death has vindicated a 50-year campaign, the Porton Down Veterans' Group said.

The group has been pressing for a public inquiry into the experiments and for compensation.

Member Don Sampson said: "We were sent in there like sheep. We were treated like animals and they lied to us about what we were going in there for."

Lawyer for the Porton Down veterans, Alan Care said: "In view of the numbers of men involved, their should clearly be a public inquiry. "We're seeking compensation for the Maddison family and depending on the Crown Proceedings Act, for other veterans as well."

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