A bitter family feud erupted today after the widow of a naval officer won a High Court negligence claim against the Ministry of Defence.

Allen Marsden, a 36-year-old petty officer from Bingley, who was described in court as "hard-working, conscientious and loyal", drowned after becoming trapped in a rope ladder while climbing down to another boat in Kerkira Bay, Corfu, in May 1993.

The court agreed with his widow Sharon Marsden's claim that the MoD failed to ensure her husband's safety. She is now expected to receive about £180,000 in damages for herself and her daughter by a previous relationship, Melanie, now 20.

But Mr Marsden's mother Renee, of Bowler Close, Low Moor, today branded the decision "disgusting".

And his first wife Jillian Jones said she planned to launch her own claim against the Royal Navy on behalf of Richard and Angela, the children they had together during their marriage.

Renee Marsden said: "I think it's disgusting for her to get this money, especially if his own children don't get anything.

"I don't think the Navy were responsible. It was an accident."

She is also upset that she was not told the High Court claim was being made.

Mrs Jones, of The Leavens, Apperley Bridge, said: "The first I knew about this going to the High Court was from the Telegraph & Argus. I was totally shocked. We will definitely be taking it further."

She said Richard, now 19, and Angela, 23, who lives in Gain Lane, had each received £11,000 after their father's death.

Judge Hayward, sitting in London, ruled yesterday that the MoD was 60 per cent responsible for the accident.

It paves the way for Sharon Marsden, from Bingley, to secure a six-figure damages payout from the ministry.

After the hearing, Sharon Marsden's solicitor, Louise Goddard, said: "She is very pleased that justice has been done at the end of what has been a very long road for her and a very frightening experience suing the might of the MoD."

An MoD spokesman said: "We consider claims for compensation on the basis of legal liability and when there is a proven case we pay out."

In his ruling, the judge said the culture aboard the ship to leave it to crew members' discretion whether to wear a lifejacket was a "substantial" cause of Mr Marsden's death.

The judge also ruled the lack of clear orders prohibiting Mr Marsden from going over the ship's side unaccompanied was a factor in the incident.

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