Thalidomide survivors sue State as they reach 50

Thalidomide survivors have begun a legal battle against the State.

Survivors of the drug that caused foetal damage and lifelong disabilities said they need extra medical care having reached their 50th birthdays — a milestone they never expected to achieve.

The Irish Thalidomide Association (ITA) says it has significant legal concerns relating to the original 1975 compensation arrangement reached with their parents when they were children.