DHSS URGED TO HAVE A CHANGE OF HEART OVER MOTABILITY CAR APPEAL
DHSS officials urged to have a change of heart over Motability car appeal
By JOHN McCUSKER
DHSS bureaucrats have been labelled as heartless after refusing a Motability car to a student who lost part of her leg in the Omagh bomb.
Severely injured Pauline Green (20), from Carnoney Road, Knockmoyle was devastated after being refused a vehicle under the scheme.
And she has vowed to appeal the decision in the hopes that officials will have a change of heart.
The young art student received notification of the refusal yesterday morning - just hours before she was due to travel to Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital for further treatment to her injuries.
It is the second time a victim who lost a limb in the bombing has been refused a car under Motability.
In January, an application by student Suzanne Kelly - who also lost part of her leg - was turned down by welfare authorities.
But DHSS chiefs hastily reversed their decision and announced a special 'fast-track' register had been set up to deal with Omagh bomb victims' claims.
This week, Ms Green pleaded with bureaucrats: "How much worse do you have to be in order to become entitled to a Motability car?"
Shortly after being discharged from hospital a year ago, the young victim applied for Disability Living Allowance. DHSS officials granted her full DLA status for three years.
In August she applied for a car under the Motability scheme with the understanding she was fully entitled to a vehicle.
But this week, she was dealt with the devastating news that her request had been refused.
"Because I can't yet drive, I've been forced to rely on my mother to take me anywhere I have to go.
"I would love to learn to drive but because of my injuries I need a specially adapted car. And unless I get one on Motability, I am forced to travel to either Belfast or Derry where the only specially adapted learner vehicles are available."
The young victim suffered horrific injuries in the Market Street atrocity. Following the attack, she underwent four months treatment at the burns unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
Her legs had to be rebuilt with skin grafts and she was then fitted with an artificial limb and had to learn to walk again. She is due to undergo further skin graft surgery in the New Year.
Ms Green is currently studying part-time for an art degree at Limavady Art College.
Her mother, Caroline, is forced to make a daily round trip of 200 miles in order to ensure her daughter attends lectures.
"Mum drives me to Limavady two days a week to attend classes. She then has to drive back to Omagh to see to the family before returning in the evening to collect me again.
"I feel this decision is very heartless as it would be so much easier on us all if I had a car of my own" she added.
According to the Motability organisation, anyone receiving the higher rate of Disability Living Allowance for a three year period automatically qualifies for a vehicle.
A spokesperson for the organisation said anyone satisfying that criteria was entitled to obtain a new car on contract hire, a new or used car on HP or an electric wheelchair.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Security refused to comment on the case, adding: "It is not departmental policy to comment on or discuss the entitlement of individual members of the public."
By JOHN McCUSKER
DHSS bureaucrats have been labelled as heartless after refusing a Motability car to a student who lost part of her leg in the Omagh bomb.
Severely injured Pauline Green (20), from Carnoney Road, Knockmoyle was devastated after being refused a vehicle under the scheme.
And she has vowed to appeal the decision in the hopes that officials will have a change of heart.
The young art student received notification of the refusal yesterday morning - just hours before she was due to travel to Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital for further treatment to her injuries.
It is the second time a victim who lost a limb in the bombing has been refused a car under Motability.
In January, an application by student Suzanne Kelly - who also lost part of her leg - was turned down by welfare authorities.
But DHSS chiefs hastily reversed their decision and announced a special 'fast-track' register had been set up to deal with Omagh bomb victims' claims.
This week, Ms Green pleaded with bureaucrats: "How much worse do you have to be in order to become entitled to a Motability car?"
Shortly after being discharged from hospital a year ago, the young victim applied for Disability Living Allowance. DHSS officials granted her full DLA status for three years.
In August she applied for a car under the Motability scheme with the understanding she was fully entitled to a vehicle.
But this week, she was dealt with the devastating news that her request had been refused.
"Because I can't yet drive, I've been forced to rely on my mother to take me anywhere I have to go.
"I would love to learn to drive but because of my injuries I need a specially adapted car. And unless I get one on Motability, I am forced to travel to either Belfast or Derry where the only specially adapted learner vehicles are available."
The young victim suffered horrific injuries in the Market Street atrocity. Following the attack, she underwent four months treatment at the burns unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
Her legs had to be rebuilt with skin grafts and she was then fitted with an artificial limb and had to learn to walk again. She is due to undergo further skin graft surgery in the New Year.
Ms Green is currently studying part-time for an art degree at Limavady Art College.
Her mother, Caroline, is forced to make a daily round trip of 200 miles in order to ensure her daughter attends lectures.
"Mum drives me to Limavady two days a week to attend classes. She then has to drive back to Omagh to see to the family before returning in the evening to collect me again.
"I feel this decision is very heartless as it would be so much easier on us all if I had a car of my own" she added.
According to the Motability organisation, anyone receiving the higher rate of Disability Living Allowance for a three year period automatically qualifies for a vehicle.
A spokesperson for the organisation said anyone satisfying that criteria was entitled to obtain a new car on contract hire, a new or used car on HP or an electric wheelchair.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Security refused to comment on the case, adding: "It is not departmental policy to comment on or discuss the entitlement of individual members of the public."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0593
Published Date: 04-Nov-99
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