Fury over symphysiotomy redress indemnity

Proposals in the symphysiotomy redress scheme requiring victims accepting a payment to “indemnify and hold harmless” those responsible have been sharply criticised.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), Survivors of Symphysiotomy (SOS) and chairman of the UN Human Rights Commission Nigel Rodley have all expressed reservations about the Government redress scheme, which closes for applicants this Friday.

Included in the scheme is a “deed of waiver and indemnity” that all victims accepting payments are required to sign. In return for the payment offered by the State, victims must “irrevocably” waive all “rights and entitlements” and to “indemnify and hold harmless” a schedule of bodies and people in respect of the carrying out of a surgical symphysiotomy or pubiotomy.