Ex-RAF high flier's personal battle with Gulf War syndrome

Ex-RAF high flier's personal battle with Gulf War syndrome
http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-evening-news/edinburgh/ex-raf-high-flier-s-personal-battle-with-gulf-war-syndrome-1-2293505

"RAF veteran Mike Sutherland was once a "party animal".

But at 49, he has been forced to quit his £55,000 a year job, has arthritis and his life is plagued by depression and chronic fatigue.

Mr Sutherland says he is just one of thousands of military veterans whose lives have been stolen by Gulf War Syndrome, and today he spoke out to raise awareness of the condition.

He is part of a group of veterans attempting to force the Ministry of Defence to release documents that could explain what caused the condition and give the support he says the Government has a moral responsibility to provide.

"None of us are chasing this for money, we just want recognition and help," said Mr Sutherland, from the home in Drum Brae he shares with wife Fiona and 18-year-old daughter Faye.

Mr Sutherland joined the RAF in 1980, and was deployed to the first Gulf War to serve as an electronic warfare expert in Bahrain. In January 1991 he was given 11 injections to immunise him against possible biological weapon attacks from Saddam Hussein's forces. "