Symphysiotomy Redress Scheme 'Falls Short Of What Is Necessary' - SF

The government's redress scheme has been described as falling short of "what is necessary to deal with this hugely difficult and traumatic issue", by Sinn Féin president, Gerry Adams.

Saying that symphysiotomy amounts to "institutional abuse", Mr Adams said it was "regrettable" that the government had linked to redress scheme to an ex-gratia payment, which he described as "a device to get the government off the legal hook of accepting responsibility for something the state could and should have prevented."

Mr Adams said: "The government's proposal also places the onus on the women who suffered this procedure to prove this in order to secure the higher payment.

"Many of the victims will be angry and unhappy at the government's refusal to lift the statute of limitations and thus allow victims the right to choose which course of action they wish to take for closure. It denies victims who wish to go down the legal route their day in court.

"I share that disappointment. Victims should have the right to pursue their case through the courts."

(MH)