British Victims Sue Costa Concordia Operator

Lawyers for British passengers who were caught up in the Costa Concordia disaster plan to sue the cruise operator after captain Francesco Schettino was found guilty of multiple manslaughter.

Judges ruled Schettino, 54, was responsible for the deaths of 32 people after the ship struck rocks off Giglio Island in January 2012.

Schettino has been jailed for 16 years. He is expected to appeal the verdict, meaning it could be years before he is imprisoned.

Lawyers have begun issuing proceedings in Italian courts against cruise firm Costa Crociere Spa on behalf of four British crew members.

Proceedings have also been issued on behalf of six British expatriates living in Spain who were aboard the ship, and two passengers from Ireland and Canada.

They are seeking damages for injuries and psychological effects, including post-traumatic stress, flashbacks and nightmares.

Some passengers have already received compensation over the disaster.

Philip Banks, from law firm Irwin Mitchell, which is representing the victims, said: "All of our clients suffered a horrendous ordeal which some may never truly overcome.

"The trauma they have been through has left some of them needing specialist therapy and counselling to come to terms with what happened and enable them to begin to move on with their lives.

"Although nothing can turn back the clock, the settlements we have already secured will help those affected to access the treatments they need, cover their lost earnings from time they have had to have off work and replace the personal items they lost on board.

"It will also compensate them for pain and suffering."

Joe Stribley, 23, from Maidstone in Kent, was on the Costa Concordia when it struck a jagged reef near the Tuscany shoreline.

He worked on the ship as a dancer and was off duty in his cabin when he felt the vessel rock to one side.

"I looked out of my cabin door and could hear glasses falling off the shelves and smashing on the floor. Then came the signal to abandon ship," he said.

"I saw that the ship was starting to sink and extreme panic set in and I thought that I was going to die.

"People started to jump into the water and, feeling this was my only option, I did the same and managed to get to the shore."

Mr Stribley became withdrawn when he got home as he struggled to deal with shock.

He said: "Every time I closed my eyes I could see it all happening again and I couldn't sleep for several weeks as I suffered from terrible flashbacks and nightmares.

Schettino was not present as Judge Giovanni Puliatti read out the verdict at a theatre in Grosseto, which had been especially adapted into a courtroom so the victims' families could attend the trial.

In the long-running trial, which began in July 2013, prosecutors claimed that Schettino lured passengers into a false sense of security by not ordering an immediate evacuation.

They had been seeking a 26-year sentence for the disgraced seaman.