Former Rotunda master says symphysiotomies were done to help women

A prominent medic has said he believes doctors who performed symphysiotomies were doing their best to help women going through an "obstructed labour".

Symphysiotomy involves cutting of the cartilage of the pelvic joint to allow more room for delivery of the baby. It was carried out on an estimated 1,500 women in Ireland between the 1940s and 1980s.