Report reveals caesarean sections were withheld from women

A new report has revealed that Irish women had to undergo a brutal form of surgery during childbirth, as caesarean sections were withheld from them.

Pubiotomy involved cutting the pubic bone in order to enable what doctors said were "difficult" births.

It was carried out where a similarly barbaric operation - a sympysiotomy, which split the pelvis - was too difficult.

Up to 1,500 symphysiotomies were carried out in Ireland between 1944 and 1992.

The report, written by Marie O'Connor, finds that "hardly any" of these operations were done out of necessity.

Instead, the report said that caesarean sections were withheld from women in case they chose to limit their families as a result.

Survivors of Symphysiotomy plans to bring its case to the UN Committee on Torture.