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.