THE family of a Triplex worker who died from the asbestos related cancer have expressed their thanks to his former colleagues who came forward following a media appeal.

Witness evidence obtained as a result of the appeal published in the St Helens Star in April 2022 resulted in an out of court settlement further to a claim brought on the family’s behalf by industrial disease experts at Simpson Millar, after his former employer, Triplex Safety Glass, admitted they were negligent in failing to protect him from exposure to the deadly dust.

Peter Malloy from St Helens was 91 when he died in January 2022, just days after he had received the shocking mesothelioma diagnosis at Whiston Hospital.

A terminal illness that affects the lining of the lungs, mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos, which often happens decades before any symptoms arise. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen, and two sons, who remember him as a friendly and sociable man, with a passion for crown green bowling.

He had been a member of several teams over the years including Queen’s Park, Alder Hey and the team at Triplex Safety Glass in St Helens where he had worked in various roles between approximately 1970 and 1989, including as an electrician’s mate.

At an inquest which took place in February last year it was confirmed that his death was caused by industrial disease. Shocked by the findings, his family went on to instruct industrial disease experts at Simpson Millar to help investigate where and when he was exposed to the deadly dust, and to determine whether more could have been done to protect him.

In a witness appeal launched in April 2022, his son, Graham, spoke of the family’s grief, urged for anyone who may have worked with Peter during his career to reach out with information, particularly those who had worked with him at Triplex Safety Glass.

Following the appeal, a number of individuals came forward, providing vital information following which his ex-employer admitted that it had failed in its duty of care to protect him from asbestos exposure.

The family has now expressed their thanks to both the St Helens Star and his former colleagues for helping them to secure justice on Peter’s behalf.

Peter’s son, Graham, said: “We are extremely grateful to the paper for running our appeal, and to everyone who came forward and provided us with vital information about the working conditions that my father was exposed to during his time at Triplex Safety Glass.

“We miss my father very much and knowing that more could have been done to protect him is very difficult to come to terms with.

“We are very thankful to the witnesses that came forward we do feel we have achieved some sense of justice on his behalf.”

The family’s solicitor, Anthony Waddington from Simpson Millar’s industrial disease team, added: “Mesothelioma is a truly awful disease which causes a lot of pain for the victim, as well as resulting in much heartache for the families. This case was particularly tragic as Mr Malloy sadly passed away within days of his diagnosis.

“While the conclusion of the case will never replace what the family has lost, it has at least held his ex-employer to account for failing to protect him and provided his loved ones with some of the answers they desperately sought following his diagnosis.”

The claim against Triplex Safety Glass settled out of court following an admission of liability.

Anthony added: “Mesothelioma alone contributes to roughly 2,500 deaths annually and this is a figure that continues to increase and devastate the lives of victims as well as their families.

“While the dangers of asbestos have been known for many decades there are still, sadly, many people dying prematurely because of related illnesses, because they were not made aware of its presence and were not provided with protective equipment.”