Worthing 80-year-old battles to win full pension

John Kearney, an ex colonial policeman, was refused a full pension by Revenue and Customs because of a gap in his voluntary national insurance contributions between 1948 and 1964 when he was serving in the Kenyan Police Force.

The missing contributions came to just 152, but that seemingly small amount had a massive impact on Mr Kearney's retirement income.

The pensioner has fought tooth and nail through the courts for the right to pay the missing contributions 45 years after they were due.

Mr Kearney fought his case on his own with no legal representation and has finally achieved a landmark victory at London's Civil Appeal Court when he was granted a 45-year extension to pay the outstanding contributions.

Lady Justice Arden said the failure to make the contributions was not the result of failure by Mr Kearney but "due to ignorance" of the complexities of the national insurance scheme.

Upholding his appeal, Lady Justice Arden said national insurance was a "novel and unfamiliar" concept in 1948 when Mr Kearney was aged just 19.

The victory means Mr Kearney, who used to work in one of Kenya's most volatile provinces, will now receive a full pension.

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