A WOMAN denied a bereavement payment after the death of her long-term partner has welcomed a change in the law next month – nearly three years after she won a landmark legal battle.

Jacqueline Smith, 62, from Chorley who lost her partner of 16 years in October 2011, argued her inability to claim bereavement damages was a breach of her human rights.

She discovered she was not entitled to a fixed sum of £12,980 when a person dies as a result of negligence as it was awarded only to spouses or civil partners.

Ms Smith had lived for 11 years with prison governor John Bulloch, 66, who died after an infection was missed following the removal of a benign tumour on his right foot.

She appointed lawyers Slater and Gordon to claim the Fatal Accidents Act was not compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights for the right to a private family life.

In November 2017, the Court of Appeal set aside a previous High Court ruling that there was no incompatibility.

Despite her successful legal challenge, Ms Smith will not receive a penny as the amendment does not include retrospective payments.

She said: “I am delighted that the law is being changed. I am glad that people will be recognised in the future as loving partners even if they are not married.

“I will not receive the bereavement award, but for me it was never about the money. It was about getting recognition that John was my partner and the law treated unmarried partners unfairly.”