Symphysiotomy test case rejected by appeals court

A woman’s claim there was “no justification whatsoever” for a symphysiotomy carried out on her in a Dublin maternity hospital in the 60s when she was 24 years old and 12 days before her first baby was born, has been unanimously rejected by a three-judge Court of Appeal.

Now 77, the woman was in court with supporters and clearly upset by the outcome.

Hers is regarded as a test case for about 30 other actions over symphysiotomies but the court stressed each must be decided on its own particular circumstances.