An Ulverston man died as a result of industrial disease due to exposure to asbestos during his time working at the Barrow Shipyard, an inquest heard. Thomas McKenna died at the age of 77 at his home on Well Lane on December 6, 2020, as a result of malignant mesothelioma. The former Vickers Shipyard pipe-fitter and welder was a much-loved father to his five daughters, and died after a three-year battle with mesothelioma, the Coroner s Court in Cockermouth heard. Tracy Robinson, one of Mr McKenna s daughters, gave a statement that was read to the court. It said: He was born in Ulverston and was the eldest of a family of seven.
A FORMER shipyard worker was pursuing a claim for asbestos exposure shortly before his death, an inquest heard. Patrick Joseph Loughran died at the age of 83 on October 4 last year a few months after receiving the diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma, the coroner s court in Cockermouth was told. He died as a result of industrial disease due to asbestos exposure in Barrow Shipyard and the Ironworks, a coroner ruled. Mr Loughran had launched a claim for asbestos exposure from his time working as a engineer in the shipyard, the inquest was tod. For this he had to write an in-life statement to specify where he may have come into contact with asbestos, a leading cause for malignant mesothelioma.