Stories of symphysiotomy survivors recounted in documentary

Women who survived a barbaric procedure in Irish maternity hospitals are hoping their stories will go global following the release of a documentary.

Yesterday, more than 100 symphysiotomy survivors attended the first screening of Mothers Against The Odds, and vowed to keep up the fight for official recognition of their plight.

Many of the women limped or used walking sticks — a legacy of the chronic pain and disability they were left with following the procedure carried out between the 1940s and 1980s in which their pelvises were sawn open to facilitate child birth during a difficult labour.