Lawyer fights to prove 9/11 link after 'Angel of Ground Zero'

[RGR]

<<<LINK>>>

Fri Nov 3, 12:30 PM ET

NEW YORK (AFP) - A nun who spent months at the site of the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York, comforting relatives of the dead and blessing body parts, has died of lung disease, her lawyer said.

David Worby said there was no doubt in Sister Cindy Mahoney's mind that she had contracted her respiratory illness from sifting through the rubble of the World Trade Center, and he said he would fight to prove the link.

Mahoney, 54, knew she was dying and requested a thorough autopsy be carried out after her death to prove that her symptoms -- like those of thousands of people who worked at the site -- were linked to working there.

"She said that considering the rest of the city was just calling this a cough and wasn't recognizing the severity, she wanted to make sure that when she died I was personally responsible for having an appropriate autopsy and pathology report" carried out, Worby told AFP.

Five years after the attacks, thousands of workers, residents and rescuers have reported respiratory problems that scientists believe to be linked to the fine particles released from the debris and inhaled deep into the lungs.

Several lawsuits have been filed, notably against the

Environmental Protection Agency, which assured residents that the air quality at Ground Zero was safe a week after the attacks.

New York authorities have also come under fire for not forcing people to wear respirators during the recovery and clean-up operations.

An autopsy carried out on a 34-year-old police officer in January for the first time established an official link between respiratory complaints and the hours workers spent sifting through the rubble at Ground Zero.

But Worby said that while some officials had challenged the findings, Mahoney's case was more clear cut, since she had no history of working in hazardous environments -- unlike the emergency workers who had fallen ill.

"What's stronger about Sister Cindy's case is that, unlike firemen and unlike police officers ... this is a South Carolina nun whose lungs have never been exposed to even one cigarette," he said.

The first results of her autopsy are expected next week.

A medical study released in September found a high incidence of respiratory problems in September 11 rescuer workers and warned that many had sustained serious and lasting damage.

[backontrack]

<<<LINK>>>

Fri Nov 3, 12:30 PM ET

NEW YORK (AFP) - A nun who spent months at the site of the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York, comforting relatives of the dead and blessing body parts, has died of lung disease, her lawyer said.

David Worby said there was no doubt in Sister Cindy Mahoney's mind that she had contracted her respiratory illness from sifting through the rubble of the World Trade Center, and he said he would fight to prove the link.

Mahoney, 54, knew she was dying and requested a thorough autopsy be carried out after her death to prove that her symptoms -- like those of thousands of people who worked at the site -- were linked to working there.

"She said that considering the rest of the city was just calling this a cough and wasn't recognizing the severity, she wanted to make sure that when she died I was personally responsible for having an appropriate autopsy and pathology report" carried out, Worby told AFP.

Five years after the attacks, thousands of workers, residents and rescuers have reported respiratory problems that scientists believe to be linked to the fine particles released from the debris and inhaled deep into the lungs.

Several lawsuits have been filed, notably against the

Environmental Protection Agency, which assured residents that the air quality at Ground Zero was safe a week after the attacks.

New York authorities have also come under fire for not forcing people to wear respirators during the recovery and clean-up operations.

An autopsy carried out on a 34-year-old police officer in January for the first time established an official link between respiratory complaints and the hours workers spent sifting through the rubble at Ground Zero.

But Worby said that while some officials had challenged the findings, Mahoney's case was more clear cut, since she had no history of working in hazardous environments -- unlike the emergency workers who had fallen ill.

"What's stronger about Sister Cindy's case is that, unlike firemen and unlike police officers ... this is a South Carolina nun whose lungs have never been exposed to even one cigarette," he said.

The first results of her autopsy are expected next week.

A medical study released in September found a high incidence of respiratory problems in September 11 rescuer workers and warned that many had sustained serious and lasting damage.

This may be a hard thing to do but the victims need to forgive the attackers who spilt the innocent blood of there loved ones. Someone needs to bless the spot where the towers stood and release the forgiving spirits there. This is a must lest our father does not forgive us.

I pray Lord that this would happen in the name of Jesus and please comfort those who still morn. Thank you God for hearing my prayer.

[buckthesystem]

I remember reading no long after the "9.11" incident that the WTC buildings were made of steel coated with asbestos fireproofing. Building seven, at least, was had a number of building faults and was largely

"condemned" but was not supposed to be demolished in the usual way mainly because of the asbestos. However, suprisingly, there now seems to be a dearth of information on that subject.

Apparently to either upgrade these buildings as required, or demolish them outright, would have cost an incredible amount of money. These buildings were built in the late 1960s or early '70s, and the later rules about clearing asbestos from public buildings were not enforced because they were built on port land.

Apparently the dust that was present after the destruction of the buildings was highly toxic, so it does not suprise me that finally someone has got around to asking a lot of questions.

There have been numerous deaths of policemen and firemen who worked for days on end at "ground-zero", but their deaths have been put down to - amazingly - "oh they could have been exposed to dangerous fumes or chemicals anytime, it was just bad luck".

"Chickens coming home to roost"?

[RGR]

This may be a hard thing to do but the victims need to forgive the attackers who spilt the innocent blood of there loved ones. Someone needs to bless the spot where the towers stood and release the forgiving spirits there. This is a must lest our father does not forgive us.

I pray Lord that this would happen in the name of Jesus and please comfort those who still morn. Thank you God for hearing my prayer.

Release the forgiving spirits? I've never heard such a thing, nor read it in the Bible! As far as forgiveness, yes, we should forgive our enemies, but if you mean that we should abandon the fight, you're dead wrong!

[billie]

Release the forgiving spirits? I've never heard such a thing, nor read it in the Bible!

I'm with you, Ron, never heard of that before. It's not in the Bible.

[Leonard]

This may be a hard thing to do but the victims need to forgive the attackers who spilt the innocent blood of there loved ones. Someone needs to bless the spot where the towers stood and release the forgiving spirits there. This is a must lest our father does not forgive us.

I pray Lord that this would happen in the name of Jesus and please comfort those who still morn. Thank you God for hearing my prayer.

Uh.....where would you get this authority to 'forgive' them? Jesus said to forgive 70 times 7 times, "IF" the offender repents. I see no repentence from these subhuman vermin who flew the planes on 9-11. There is no Scriptural warrant to 'forgive' them. Besides, they didn't kill ME; how I can I 'forgive' those who harmed OTHERS?

Too many Christians spend their time trying to be 'nicer than Jesus'!

[Marnie]

Uh.....where would you get this authority to 'forgive' them? Jesus said to forgive 70 times 7 times, "IF" the offender repents. I see no repentence from these subhuman vermin who flew the planes on 9-11. There is no Scriptural warrant to 'forgive' them. Besides, they didn't kill ME; how I can I 'forgive' those who harmed OTHERS?

Too many Christians spend their time trying to be 'nicer than Jesus'!

Leonard, thank you for that! Your turn of phrase is, as always, spot on.

"Forgiving spirits?!?!" I almost tripped over that.

There will be kooks and conspiracy nuts doing this kind of thing for the next 100 years, so get used to it.

[Leonard]

This just in under: "Another unscrupulous lawyer sees his chance to make a few hundred million............."

[LightofJesus]

What I would like to know is who in the world are they going to sue. It was these attackers that cause the destruction not anyone here. Always someone out there wanting to gain from someone elses loss. That is what gets my goat.

[Guest shiloh357]

What I would like to know is who in the world are they going to sue. It was these attackers that cause the destruction not anyone here. Always someone out there wanting to gain from someone elses loss. That is what gets my goat.

Probably sue the city of New York for not forcing workers to wear respirators.