Court awards Kegworth widow pounds 11,000

The widow of one of the victims of the 1989 Kegworth air disaster was yesterday awarded pounds 11,182 damages in the High Court in London.

Anne Glackin, 59, of Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, who was separated from her husband David, 51, when he died from severe chest injuries suffered in the crash, was awarded the sum against British Midland Airways and the engine manufacturers.

Mrs Glackin, whose claim had been for a six-figure sum, looked shocked as Judge Anthony Thompson QC gave his decision yesterday. Shortly after leaving the High Court building, photographers saw Mrs Glackin (left) collapse. She was driven off in an ambulance.

Earlier, her son Jim, 32, said outside court: "Our family's lives were destroyed by the crash. Today we have been very disappointed that the court has not seen the damage that has been done."

Mrs Glackin had claimed damages on behalf of herself and for her daughter Sophia, now 26, who was still at school when her father died. Her five other children were grown-up at the time. She and her husband had been planning to get back together.