A WOMAN who has almost single-handedly championed the cause of sick and dying miners has finally won her own personal battle for justice.

Pat Daglish was spurred into action after witnessing the slow death of her father Thomas whose lungs were wrecked by years of working down the pits.

Five years ago he submitted a compensation claim for his illness which left him requiring 24-hour care and oxygen to breathe.

But he died in 1999, nursed by Ms Daglish, without the cash having been paid.

That claim has now finally been settled in full with Ms Daglish accepting a five figure sum from her father's former employer, British Coal.

The miners' daughter from Stanley, County Durham, has proved the driving force behind The Northern Echo's Justice for the Miners Campaign.

She collected thousands of protest signatures and has met with Government ministers in a bid to force the speeding up of the compensation process.

Ms Daglish said: "I feel as if finally my father can rest in peace as this was important to him.

"He said to me before he died to carry on fighting and get the compensation that was due as it was basically for me.

"It's just a shame that to get here we've had to jump every hurdle possible put in front of us and seen countless promises broken."

Pay-outs for mining related lung disease in the North-East have now reached £31m and the compensation process has been speeded up.

But with new claims still being registered each week it is not known how long it could take to finally clear all the claims.

Ms Daglish has requested another meeting with Government Energy Minister Brian Wilson to discuss the situation.

She has also seen a close friend die recently who was also battling for justice for her late father.

"I was sick of people that I know dying before receiving the money that they were owed and still am," she said.

"I have settled my claim but that should not stop the campaign or the pressure on the Government."

Read more about this campaign here.