by Chris Proctor
ASLEF needed to take the case of train driver Quncy Oji to an appeal before the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority would concede that being chased down an underground tunnel, dropped to the floor and threatened by armed men is a traumatic experience that merits compensation.
That is what happened to Mr Oji on July 22 2005. He was driving the tube train on which Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead by heavily armed police at Stockwell station. The doors stayed open and the train remained in the platform – while, understandably, Mr Oji took to his heels. He was pursued by armed police, who waved guns in his face as he lay on the ground. Thompsons solicitors, who handled the case for the union, argued that he should be compensated for the post traumatic stress disorder he suffered as a result.
The CICA resisted on the grounds that he was not the victim of a violent crime, because a crime had not happened, and that he was some distance from the shooting so would not have feared physical harm.
“I have never come across such spurious arguments to avoid paying compensation to someone who clearly deserves recompense”, said ASLEF general secretary Keith Norman. “I’m delighted that we finally have recognition of the trauma our member suffered, even if the £1,000 we have secured hardly reflects what driver Oji has endured.”
Andrew Hutson of Thompsons said: “It would have been a grave injustice if the CICA had got away with refusing to offer any compensation, but that was certainly its
intention.”
