Thalidomide group welcomes Australian’s settlement

The Irish Thalidomide Association has welcomed an Australian woman’s multimillion settlement with the distributor of the anti-morning sickness drug she says caused her birth defect.

Melbourne native Lynette Rowe was born without arms or legs after her mother took thalidomide while pregnant.

Ms Rowe led the class action against three parties: Drug-maker Grunenthal; Distillers Company (Biochemicals), which sold the drug in Australia; and Diageo Scotland, the successor company to Distillers.

Ms Rowe said Grunenthal should have been aware that their drug was linked to birth defects while it was still available to the public.

Her lawyer, Peter Gordon, told Victoria Supreme Court his client had reached a settlement with Diageo and Distillers, but Grunenthal declined to settle.

Exact terms of the settlement were confidential, but Ms Rowe’s lawyers said it was several million dollars. The lawsuit asked for compensation for victims’ pain and suffering, lost wages, and future medical care.

Irish Thalidomide Association spokeswoman Finola Cassidy said the group was happy with the settlement.

“We welcome news on the settlement. We know how hard they fought to earn it. It shows that worldwide, people are bringing closure to this ordeal. It’s 50 years on and justice can still be done.”

The next step for the Irish group is to have the State admit having part in letting the drug reach home markets. “We need to show the state’s culpability,” said Ms Cassidy. “People have to be in the top of their health to face these kinds of battle and it is clear Thalidomide survivors are not in full health, so putting them through this ordeal is unforgivable.”