Symphysiotomy - Women due an apology

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald spoke this week before the United Nations Human Rights Committee in Geneva about the "dreadful situation of the survivors of symphysiotomy".

This was the deliberate breaking of a woman’s pelvis in order to facilitate childbirth.

She explained that the Government has decided to establish an ex gratia scheme for the 350 survivors to avoid the necessity of litigation. Most of these women have rejected this form of quiet redress because they want the truth to be known and fully understood.