Video: ‘Survivors of Symphysiotomy’ Dáil protest for redress Bill to be published

» John Hedges & Mark Moloney

‘To deny these women speedy access to a legal remedy would be to compound the abuse they suffered in childbirth at the hands of doctors in whom they placed their trust’

THE ‘Survivors of Symphysiotomy’ campaign group staged a colourful lobby of the Dáil on Wednesday to protest against the delay in dealing with its Bill setting side the legal bar to justice for victims of this surgery.

The women want the legislation to be dealt with before the Dáil’s summer recess next month.

They have been supported throughout their campaign by Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin who was at the protest to reaffirm that their call is an urgent one.

SoS Chairperson Marie O’Connor asked at the protest:

“Where is the New Republic for survivors of symphysiotomy?

“The old one specialised in hiding acts of violation. We must allow victims to shine a light on the past lest we deny them their humanity and compound the abuse that was perpetrated on them.  

“These were illegal operations, performed without consent, that breached women’s human rights in childbirth and led to a lifetime of ill-health and suffering. Are we now to see those surviving women denied ready access to truth and justice?"

“State cover-up has forced survivors – now in their 70s and 80s –  to go the legal route.

“Notwithstanding the very strong support for this Bill on all sides of the House, and indeed, within the Justice Committee itself, our  Bill has not been tabled for discussion.

“Last year, the Justice Committee voted unanimously to lift the law on limitations for survivors of symphysiotomy. The Bill has been before them for two months.

“This is a brief Bill, effectively containing two sections, that could be dealt with very quickly. Our members want this through before the Dáil rises in July. The alternative is to see this Bill on life support next autumn, choked by a raft of financial legislation.

“We cannot understand why the Minister for Justice has not made himself available for a Bill that so closely mirrors his own 1998 Bill setting aside the legal bar to justice for victims of abuse in residential institutions.

“We are confident that the use of symphysiotomy in Irish hospitals will ultimately be recognised for what it was – institutional abuse, albeit of a medical character.

“There is a moral imperative here to ensure ready access to justice for these women. To deny these women speedy access to a legal remedy would be to compound the abuse they suffered in childbirth at the hands of doctors in whom they placed their trust.”

The Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Bill 2013 passed Second Stage on 17 April.

❑  See also: Tears as Dáil hears horrors in Irish hospitals . . . ‘Symphysiotomy is a clinical scandal on a par with the clerical scandals’ – Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD https://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/1397

• Below: Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin at the protest