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| Lower sum for boy blinded by IRA | Lower sum for boy blinded by IRA |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| An Army cadet who was blinded in an IRA bombing has only been given compensation for the loss of one eye. | An Army cadet who was blinded in an IRA bombing has only been given compensation for the loss of one eye. |
| Stephen Menary, who now lives in Birmingham, was aged 14 when he was injured in the blast in London in 2001. | Stephen Menary, who now lives in Birmingham, was aged 14 when he was injured in the blast in London in 2001. |
| Mr Menary also lost his left hand and ear, and suffered severe stomach and chest injuries. | Mr Menary also lost his left hand and ear, and suffered severe stomach and chest injuries. |
| But because he was already partially sighted he will receive only £22,000 instead of the £110,000 victims who are blinded normally receive. | But because he was already partially sighted he will receive only £22,000 instead of the £110,000 victims who are blinded normally receive. |
| He is set to receive a final settlement from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (Cica) of £270,000, which also takes into account his other injuries. | He is set to receive a final settlement from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (Cica) of £270,000, which also takes into account his other injuries. |
| He has calculated the award will leave him an income of £12,000 a year. | He has calculated the award will leave him an income of £12,000 a year. |
| I didn't need any glasses or any reading aids at all - I was no different from the average person Stephen Menary | I didn't need any glasses or any reading aids at all - I was no different from the average person Stephen Menary |
| He said: "Disappointment is mostly what I feel. I'm upset, not only at my own situation, but other people. | He said: "Disappointment is mostly what I feel. I'm upset, not only at my own situation, but other people. |
| "You read stories about almost every day now of soldiers and airmen and navy personnel that are receiving nothing in compensation for their injuries and what they've done for their country. | |
| "My vision before the attack was pretty much perfect. | "My vision before the attack was pretty much perfect. |
| "I would have been eligible to drive, I didn't need any glasses or any reading aids at all - I was no different from the average person." | "I would have been eligible to drive, I didn't need any glasses or any reading aids at all - I was no different from the average person." |
| Mr Menary was on his way to cadet training near his home in White City, West London, when he picked up a booby-trapped army torch. | |
| A spokesman for Cica said: "Under the terms of the scheme, the tariff award for the loss of sight in one eye is a maximum of £22,000 with the loss of sight in both eyes holding a maximum award of £110,000. | A spokesman for Cica said: "Under the terms of the scheme, the tariff award for the loss of sight in one eye is a maximum of £22,000 with the loss of sight in both eyes holding a maximum award of £110,000. |
| "We will take into account pre-existing conditions when assessing any claim and this may reduce the amount of the offer made. | "We will take into account pre-existing conditions when assessing any claim and this may reduce the amount of the offer made. |
| "We only make awards for injuries that are directly attributable to a crime of violence." | "We only make awards for injuries that are directly attributable to a crime of violence." |
| Mr Menary said he plans to appeal. | Mr Menary said he plans to appeal. |
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