Mother receives £3.5m army payout

The MoD has admitted liability for the boys disabilities caused at birth

A former solider's wife has won a Ministry of Defence (MoD) payout after a 13-year battle over a medical blunder that left her twin sons brain damaged.

Lynne Steele, 41, from Blackpool, has won £3.55m for Shane and Dean, 18, who were born with cerebral palsy after the MOD accepted her liability claim.

An MoD spokesman said: "We regret any pain and suffering caused."

In 1991 Ms Steele gave birth hours after a doctor on a German army base refused to see her over stomach pains.

The mother-of-two said: "The Army has been in denial and refused to accept responsibility up until the very last.

"Of course we are angry... All they have is empathy for each other."

Ms Steele was living on the German base with her then husband, Corporal Mark Edwards, who was serving with the Royal Irish Hussars.

She visited the onsite medical centre where a nurse rang the army doctor who said he would see Ms Steele the following day despite her concerns she was going into premature labour.

She woke five hours later and was rushed to the nearby civilian hospital where she gave birth to her sons.

The MoD has admitted liability, compensation has been agreed An MoD spokesman

"I knew straight away something was wrong with Shane because he had a massive bleed."

Dean was not diagnosed with the disability until he was two. He had since had numerous operations.

Shane has never been able to walk and uses a wheelchair.

Ms Steele said: "Our medical experts said on the balance of probability Shane and Dean would have been born without any damage had they checked when I first went to the medical centre."

The MoD spokesman said: "The MoD has admitted liability.

"Compensation has been agreed and this awaits authorisation by the High Court. "

A hearing to finalise the payout is being held at the High Court on 7 July.

Dean said: "I think this is an amazing achievement. Mum has done really well."