Maggie Woods, who is the chairperson of the Irish Thalidomide Association, says the “thalidomide catastrophe” was not inevitable.
“Early warning signs of the tragic effect of this wholly untested drug were ignored. And, even after it was known that it caused birth defects the Irish Government delayed for several months in withdrawing it.”
Thalidomide caused severe foetal damage, she says. “We were born without limbs, with limbs foreshortened, with impairments of hearing and vision, as well as injury to internal organs. This caused pain and suffering, not only to ourselves, but also to our parents, siblings and to our own children and partners.
“Now in middle age we are looking back at our lives and looking forward to our futures. We can look back in pride as well as anger. With pride we regard the contribution we have made and continue to make to our society.
“And in anger, we also calculate the costs. Our lives, which we consider ordinary, which is a success in itself, have come at a price. We have pushed ourselves far. We have strained our muscles, twisted our skeletons, and inherited pain. The arrangement made between the Irish Government and our parents in 1975 was then barely adequate and is today wholly inadequate and needs to be revisited urgently in the light of our declining status.”
She is calling on the Taoiseach to admit that Thalidomide survivors were “wronged” and that the State was responsible for this wrong by licensing the Thalidomide drug for pregnant women.
“We also want him to furnish an unreserved apology to Thalidomide survivors on behalf of the citizens of Ireland in respect of the physical, emotional and personal suffering endured by Thalidomide survivors and their families. We are also seeking disclosure of documents - to this day, the Irish State still refuses access to documentation from this period relating to the events that occurred around the Thalidomide health catastrophe in Ireland.”
She says the original Thalidomide arrangement was delivered on a “take it or leave it basis”.
“It was constructed by the Irish State with the perception that many of the children concerned would not survive into adulthood. Tragically, the effects of misuse and overuse of deformed limbs and the added effects of the ageing process has resulted in a major reduction in mobility and a serious increase in pain levels for Thalidomide survivors. Due to such additional adverse physical consequences the Irish Thalidomide Association now urge the Government as a priority to take remedial action to correct the injustices of the past by entering into a meaningful and effective dialogue process rather than avoiding its obligations.”
