Minister promises to help bashed vet get ACC cash

The Government has pledged to find a solution after the ACC told bashed war veteran Eric Brady it could not cover the full cost of his dental work.

ACC Minister Nick Smith last night said it was unacceptable that Mr Brady, 85, had been told to find $1500 for new dentures after being beaten in February outside the Papatoetoe RSA.

The assault left him with serious injuries to his face, and he had thought ACC would cover the $2500 cost of his new dentures.

But it would pay only $1115.70, leaving the 85-year-old to find the remaining $1500.

Last night, Dr Smith told TVNZ's Close Up that this was unacceptable, and he would pay the dental bill if ACC would not.

He said: "The frustration with ACC is you get somebody like [jailed murderer] Graham Burton, who gets $10,000 for a fancy new leg as a violent criminal, and you have a war veteran like Eric Brady being asked to put his hands in his own pocket after being brutally assaulted. It's not acceptable.

"What I can give you an absolute assurance of is, Mr Brady will not be asked to pay this $1400 because it's not right.

"It's not coming out of his pocket; I will find a solution."