The families of those killed in an oil rig disaster 45 years ago have welcomed a new report that backs up claims they were denied justice.

In 1980, the Alexander Kielland platform, which was being used as accommodation, capsized in a storm in the Norwegian North Sea, killing 123 people, 22 of them British.

A study from the University of Stavanger showed The conclusion is that authorities failed survivors and victims’ familiesThe Norwegian government has previously apologized for this.

Laura Fleming, her Father Michael was also among the victimssaid the report should help get to the bottom of what happened.

Fleming, 37, was one of five men from Cleator Moor, Cumbria, who died when the floating drilling rig capsized about 200 miles (322 kilometers) off the Norwegian coast on March 27, 1980 .

His daughter Laura, who is part of Kieran’s family network, said the “shocking truth” of what happened had only recently been revealed and she still had many questions.

this Research at the University of Stavanger The conclusion was that Norwegian authorities prioritized protecting the reputation of the lucrative oil industry rather than fully investigating the causes of the disaster.

They say it involves more complex factors than a simple break of a leg on the platform four years ago, which was blamed on the French manufacturer.

Ms Fleming, who lives in Durham, said the family had been “forced” to accept a settlement after the disaster, with “no explanation provided as to how the rig sank” and “the gates of power were strictly closed to any questions”.

“The Norwegian government made a conscious decision not to take natural and sensible action in the aftermath of the accident,” Fleming said. She added that the Norwegian government did not want to conduct a full investigation because it could affect an industry that provides “wealth and prosperity.” .

The Norwegian government had previously apologized for the failure of its investigation, but ruled in 2021 that a new investigation would not yield any new results.

Ms Fleming said she was “grateful” for the “important” new research, adding that it could “help reveal the truth”.