Mothers 'forgotten victims' of Thalidomide - campaigner

A woman who was born with a birth defect as a result of the Thalidomide drug has said her wish on her 65th birthday is for the Government to fast track a State apology.

Finola Cassidy told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that her birthday wish "is just that nobody else dies without hearing the apology," adding that a lot of survivors are in poor health and they have been failed "time and time again".

Thalidomide was developed in the 1950s to treat morning sickness during pregnancy but was withdrawn from most markets in 1961 following widespread evidence it was linked to birth defects. However, it continued to be sold hin Ireland until 1964.

Ms Cassidy, who was born in 1961, described her birthday as "quite special" saying that many survivors will turn 65 this year.

"I was baptised in the delivery ward and I'm actually a little bit emotional about this one (birthday) because we've all deteriorated a little bit. I was thinking of my 60th birthday where I walked half of the Dublin Marathon by default, but this year I'd be lucky if I went up to watch it.

"I think the reality of this sort of disability creeping up on us maybe faster than we'd ever seen it coming when we led such independent lives. That's definitely not a good place, but I am glass half full".

She explained that she is going to a conference this week in the Netherlands on Thalidomide-related disabilities with over 400 people from all over the world.

"It's just a bit magical to be doing it on my 65th birthday but it's going to be brutal. The level of disability among our Thalidomide group worldwide is extraordinary - no arms, no legs, no ears, internal damage... and all the people that we've lost in the last few years.

"It's going to be quite stark.. there are many close friends that we've lost in the last few years."

She described the biggest let down by Ireland as the deliberate decision not to act on the international withdrawal, saying so many people were needlessly affected.

Elsewhere, the drug was withdrawn "more wholesomely or more thoroughly", she said.

Promises made in 1970s to parents were 'backtracked'

Ms Cassidy said that is where the State responsibility comes in. She added that regarding State apologies, other countries have put the shoulder to the wheel.

"That's one thing that we will be discussing (at the conference) is how hard every nationality had to fight their governments on this over the years.

It took years.. we're definitely experiencing that now here in Ireland.

"We are in negotiation and I've had assurances this week from the Tánaiste's office that they are looking, with the Taoiseach at the earliest stage because we were meant to meet in September.

"Negotiations are challenging to say the least, which is very disappointing because we thought it was going to be a fast process.

"I suppose on this day, on my birthday, all I want, and I keep asking for it at every meeting and every opportunity is for them to fast track the apology. I think they could front load it.

"We're not going to get all the Ts crossed and the Is dotted on this campaign, but I'm so worried about some of our ageing mothers, as there are very few left, some of the siblings, and some of our own survivors who are not in good health."

She added that the facts are "so evident" and they [the government] know what they did.

"They chose to backtrack on promises made in the 1970s to our parents."

She said that her experience of negotiations with the Government as a spokesperson of the Irish Thalidomide Association is that it is "their way or the highway" and it seems very difficult to make headway on the victims' wishes.

"It just still seems to be hard to get some of the messages across," she said.

She added that she was thinking of her mother today, as she had no warning about the effects of Thalidomide and only discovered something was wrong in the delivery ward.

"I think it must have been a very isolating time and a big shock to my mum and to many of the mothers in particular.

"And I have to say I feel a huge grá for all the mothers and I just think that they deserve the justice. They were somewhat the forgotten victims and they were equal victims in this tragedy."

She said that like her, most Thalidomide survivors would never have had a discussion with their mothers about what happened.

But she said she was very proud of her mother as she and her father co-founded the Justice for Irish Thalidomide Children group, which she described as "extraordinary".

"They didn't flag it, they didn't trumpet it. They just trumpeted us. I think that's very telling that the toll that it must have taken on them was all internal in many ways, she said.