Symphysiotomy victims vote no to payout scheme

Victims of a surgery inflicted on 1,500 women giving birth from the 1940s to 1980s have voted to reject a State compensation plan and instead take legal action as the Government deal does not admit "wrongdoing".

The claim has been made by the Survivors of Symphysiotomy (SoS) group, one of two patient representative bodies with strongly differing views on how those damaged by the procedure should be compensated.

In recent months, the Government announced an ex gratia redress scheme which notes the State is not liable for the damage caused by the symphysiotomy procedure.

Under the deal, women who underwent the surgery can receive a €50,000 to €150,000 once-off sum, if they prove injuries were caused by the act.

Applications for the €34m scheme, which Health Minister Leo Varadkar and predecessor James Reilly said would help the women receive closure without the need for drawn-out legal action, can be submitted from this month.

However, speaking at a joint briefing SoS chairwoman Marie O’Connor and Irish Council for Civil Liberties director Mark Kelly said the redress scheme was designed to protect Government.

Confirming that SoS’s 200 members had voted to reject the plan because the State would not accept wrongdoing and due to suggestions the pay-outs fall far short of what was needed, she said approximately 200 high court cases were being planned.

“Government has made high court conflict inevitable,” Ms O’Connor said.

In a separate statement to the Irish Examiner, rival group Survivors of Symphysiotomy Ltd (SoS Ltd) said it was providing information on all options, but said accepting the scheme might be best due to some women’s age and drawn-out legal alternatives.