A FORMER pit man's widow 'outrageously' had to wait two-and-a-half years for compensation after her husband died of lung cancer caused by asbestos.
And solicitors acting on his behalf say the way the government has treated the man's family borders on contemptuous.
The ex-miner spent most of his working life above ground at Dodworth colliery and was exposed to the deadly material in the lamp room while mending Davy lamps.
His grieving family wishes to remain anonymous but the man, known only as Mr H, was 71 when he died in January 2005. He left a wife, son and three daughters, one of whom is bedridden.
Mr H worked in the lamp room because he suffered a serious leg injury that forced him off the coal face.
Raleys Solicitors acted to secure compensation for the family after he died of mesothelioma, a devastating lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos dust.
The Barnsley-based firm has been scathing of industry chiefs who stalled on paying compensation until days before the case was due to go to court.
Partner Carol Gill said the delays in settling were outrageous.
