A GREENFORD WOMAN BECAME SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL AFT

A GREENFORD WOMAN BECAME SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL AFTER SEEING HER

HOUSE BURN DOWN, THE HIGH COURT HEARD TODAY (FRIDAY)
THE EMOTIONAL TRAUMA CAUSED A COMPLETE PERSONALITY CHANGE IN
MRS.

MADIHA ATTIA, 38, OF LEAVER GARDENS, HER COUNSEL, MR.

DAVID
TUCKER SAID.

MRS.

ATTIA IS SUING THE BRITISH GAS CORPORATION, WHICH HAS
ACCEPTED LIABILITY FOR STARTING THE FIRE.

GAS WORKERS HAD BEEN INSTALLING CENTRAL HEATING IN HER HOUSE ON

JULY 1, 1981 WHEN A BLOWAMP LEFT NEAR A GAS PIPE CAUGHT ALIGHT AND

STARTED THE BLAZE.

MRS.

ATTIA ARRIVED HOME TO SEE SMOKE COMING FROM HER HOUSE, THR
FIRST STOREY OF WHICH WAS DESTROYED.

INSURANCE COMPENSATION WAS PAID BY THE BRITISH GAS CORPORATION

THREE YEARS AGO, BUT MAINTAIN THEY DO NOT OWE MRS.

ATTIA A DUTY OF

CARE.

COUNSEL SAID MRS.

ATTIA HAD BEEN UNABLE TO CONTINUE HER JOB
AS A SOCIAL WORKER WITH THE SAUDI ARABIAN MEDICAL OFFICE.

‘BEFORE THE

FIRE MRS.

ATTIA WAS A HAPPY, SOCIABLE WOMAN WHO WAS PROUD OF HERSELF

AND HER FAMILY.

‘
SHE HAS NOW BECOME WITHDRAWN, DEPRESSED AND LACKING IN

CONFIDENCE.

THE CHANGE HAS THREATENED HER MARRIAGE AND WHENEVER SHE

SEES SMOKE SHE THINKS OF HER BURNING HOME ADED MR TUCKER.

THE HEARING WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THE BRITISH GAS CORPORATION
DOES OWE MRS.

ATTIA A DUTY OF CARE.

THERE WILL BE A FURTHER HEARING
TO ASSESS DAMAGES IF MRS.

ATTIA IS SUCCESSFUL
THE CASE CONTINUES.

ENDS

?EOM