Patrick Walsh was instructed by Mr P, who was engaged as a firefighter and fire officer by a local authority fire department in the Midlands between 1978 and 2009.  

Between 1978 and the late 1990s, Mr P worked on the ground extinguishing fires and attending the sites of fires to investigate the cause of the fire.  This involved him removing asbestos materials from plant and equipment during firefighting and disturbing asbestos materials at the sites of fire whilst carrying out investigations.  

In addition, Mr P had a training role which involved him setting up training incidents in the basements of hospitals and old buildings which involved contact with damaged and degraded lagged pipework.  As a result of this activity, Mr P regularly came into contact with asbestos.  He was not provided with a mask or respirator or any proper training in how to avoid contact with asbestos.  

In 2021, Mr P began to experience breathing problems. Following this, he underwent investigations and was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma.  

He instructed Patrick Walsh to pursue and investigate his claim.  The Fire Brigade admitted liability and Mr P received £475,000, together with an agreement that the insurers for the Fire Service fund any private medical treatment needed for the mesothelioma.