Paralympian presses PM over compensation

David Cameron and Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Maria Miller with the Winter Paralympic Team GB at Downing Street

A paralympic skier and former soldier challenged David Cameron about being denied compensation for his war injuries during a reception for the Sochi Games team.

Sit-skier Mick Brennan, 34, who was seriously wounded in  a suicide bombing in Iraq in 2004, took the opportunity of meeting the Prime Minister at  a reception in Downing Street  to push for changes to the  armed forces compensation scheme.

Mr Brennan, who recorded two top-10 finishes in the Winter Paralympics, said despite the injuries he suffered and the lack of compensation, he felt like a “millionaire” because of his skiing success.

At the Downing Street reception to celebrate the success of the Sochi competitors, Mr Cameron told the former 30 Signal Regiment sergeant he would look into the issue.

Mr Brennan said he had previously met Mr Cameron before the 2010 election, when he was leader of the Opposition, and had asked him to look at the issue.

The Prime Minister told him he would look at the case, and Mr Brennan said he had been told to contact Minister for the Disabled Mike Penning – a fellow former serviceman.

Mr Brennan lost his legs and also suffered a serious brain injury in the bomb attack, which occurred when he was serving in Fallujah in November 2004.

The armed forces compensation scheme only came into effect the following year.

Asked whether he expected raising the issue with Mr Cameron would result in changes, Mr Brennan, 34, from Bircotes near Doncaster, said: “I’m not going to count on anything. I’ve had nothing now, I’m happy in life, I’m doing something that I want to be doing and I’m being fully supported by the Combined Services Disabled Ski Team and Disability Snowsport UK.

“I’m a millionaire because I’m doing something that I want to be doing and I’ve got no stress.”

Great Britain won a record six medals at the Sochi Games.