Witness appeal after former Merseyside pipe-fitter's death from asbestos cancer
The family of a former pipe-fitter from Merseyside are appealing for witnesses following his death from mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.
Posted on 11 March 2025
Thomas Guinan, often known as Tommy, worked across the Merseyside area throughout the 1960s and 70s, undertaking pipe-fitting work for a number of different companies.
It is thought he was most likely exposed to asbestos while working for a company known as Lucas (or Lucas’) from around 1964 to 1965, which was located on Long Lane in Aintree, Liverpool.
While working there, Thomas’s job of fitting pipes involved working in a dusty environment without any protective equipment or warnings about any risk of exposure to asbestos. Thomas also spent time working for other companies during this period, including:
- C Seward & Co Ltd from 1962 to 1963
- Scotts (St Helens) Limited from 1964 to 1966
- Humphrys & Glasgow Ltd from 1966 to 1967
- Taylor Woodrow Group from 1967 to 1969
- Tarmac Civil Engineering Ltd from 1968 to 1969
- William Press & Son Ltd from 1968 to 1969, then again from 1971 to 1972
- Kellog International Corporation from 1969 to 1972
Thomas retired in 2006 having moved with his wife, Anne, to Canada in 1977, and continued to live there for the rest of his life.
In February 2024, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma having experienced symptoms in the preceding months. In March 2024, less than a year after his diagnosis, Thomas sadly died from the disease aged 80.
Due to the rapid progression of the disease after his diagnosis, Thomas was unable to provide extensive details of his working environments.
His family are now appealing for witnesses who worked with him or at the same companies at a similar time who can provide more information about the working conditions and the potential presence of asbestos.
Leigh Day partner Kevin Johnson, who represents Thomas’s family, said:
“Due to the rapid progression of Thomas’s mesothelioma, he was given little time to share details of his working life before he sadly passed away. As a result, his family are now appealing to anybody who worked with or at a similar time to Thomas at the same companies, in particular Lucas’ during the 1960s. Any information could potentially be of great help to the family’s legal claim.”
Anyone who has information can contact Kevin on 0151 305 2766 or email ktjohnson@leighday.co.uk.
Kevin Johnson
Leading Liverpool, Cheshire and North West mesothelioma claims lawyer
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