OMAGH VICTIMS HUMILIATED
Omagh victims humiliated
BY NIGEL MCDONAGH
Anger after women asked to strip in front of lawyers
THE British government is to launch a probe into reports that victims of the Omagh bomb were forced to endure "humiliating and degrading" procedures while being examined by lawyers during compensation claims.
Rosemary Ingram had to strip to her underwear before a panel of six lawyers, including three men, when her compensation case was heard in April. And Mary Ellis has told that she was also forced to strip to her underwear before a group of lawyers, one of whom is said to have moved her bra strap for a better look at her shoulder.
A number of other victims were subjected to similar treatment and now the government is facing demands for changes to be made in the procedures used when lawyers decide compensation pay outs.
Reports in a Sunday newspaper revealed that 53-year old Rosemary Ingram had to strip in front of six lawyers, including three men, in a small room at the High Court in Belfast.
Mrs Ingram, who sustained shrapnel injuries to her head, right shoulder, left ankle and along her right leg, told how one of the lawyers assessing her scars even moved her underwear to one side to get a better look at her wounds.
This is despite the fact that the Northern Ireland Compensation Agency had access to medical reports and had been provided with photographs taken by her husband detailing the extent of her injuries.
She said: "I had to strip to my bra and pants and stand there for a few minutes in front of them. There was a big window in the room and I was afraid that someone could walk past and see me.
"I was so embarrassed. I wanted to cover my face but I just stood and stared at the wall until it was all over. I would have felt happier if there were doctors and nurses there".
Mrs Ingram described her experience as "humiliating and degrading". "I don't think any woman should be asked to undress in a room full of people. It is totally unacceptable," she said.
Another woman injured in the Real IRA atrocity spoke on Tuesday of how she felt humiliated while being examined by lawyers in her compensation claim.
Mary Ellis was injured in her shoulder and leg and her eardrums were perforated. She revealed how she had to appear before a group of lawyers in her underwear and that one moved a bra strap for a better look at her shoulder.
"I went into this small room and stripped to my underwear. All of a sudden I saw this drove of men coming through the door. One of the men pulled my bra over my shoulder down to my arm. I felt so bad that day I didn't want to go back," she said.
Kevin Skelton described how his 16-year old daughter, whose cheek was scarred in the attack, had been "devastated" by a lawyer who remarked that she was "lucky" her whole face had not been affected.
Other victims, including men, have endured similar ordeals and the Omagh families are now demanding that the Northern Ireland Office Victims Minister, Des Browne, intervene and put a stop to the "shoddy treatment".
An NIO spokeswoman confirmed that Mr Browne will investigate claims by some victims that they were treated "appallingly" by the Compensation Agency.
She said: "We recognise this is a sensitive and painful issue for all concerned and the greatest possible care is taken when assessing compensation".
Sir Kenneth Bloomfield, who chaired a review of criminal injuries compensation and is a former victims minister, said there were lessons to be learned.
"I think if a valid medical practitioner is able to produce convincing evidence that the injuries are of a certain kind, it is difficult to see why less qualified people should question that," he said.
"Clearly it is particularly sensitive for women to find themselves subjected to this kind of examination."
BY NIGEL MCDONAGH
Anger after women asked to strip in front of lawyers
THE British government is to launch a probe into reports that victims of the Omagh bomb were forced to endure "humiliating and degrading" procedures while being examined by lawyers during compensation claims.
Rosemary Ingram had to strip to her underwear before a panel of six lawyers, including three men, when her compensation case was heard in April. And Mary Ellis has told that she was also forced to strip to her underwear before a group of lawyers, one of whom is said to have moved her bra strap for a better look at her shoulder.
A number of other victims were subjected to similar treatment and now the government is facing demands for changes to be made in the procedures used when lawyers decide compensation pay outs.
Reports in a Sunday newspaper revealed that 53-year old Rosemary Ingram had to strip in front of six lawyers, including three men, in a small room at the High Court in Belfast.
Mrs Ingram, who sustained shrapnel injuries to her head, right shoulder, left ankle and along her right leg, told how one of the lawyers assessing her scars even moved her underwear to one side to get a better look at her wounds.
This is despite the fact that the Northern Ireland Compensation Agency had access to medical reports and had been provided with photographs taken by her husband detailing the extent of her injuries.
She said: "I had to strip to my bra and pants and stand there for a few minutes in front of them. There was a big window in the room and I was afraid that someone could walk past and see me.
"I was so embarrassed. I wanted to cover my face but I just stood and stared at the wall until it was all over. I would have felt happier if there were doctors and nurses there".
Mrs Ingram described her experience as "humiliating and degrading". "I don't think any woman should be asked to undress in a room full of people. It is totally unacceptable," she said.
Another woman injured in the Real IRA atrocity spoke on Tuesday of how she felt humiliated while being examined by lawyers in her compensation claim.
Mary Ellis was injured in her shoulder and leg and her eardrums were perforated. She revealed how she had to appear before a group of lawyers in her underwear and that one moved a bra strap for a better look at her shoulder.
"I went into this small room and stripped to my underwear. All of a sudden I saw this drove of men coming through the door. One of the men pulled my bra over my shoulder down to my arm. I felt so bad that day I didn't want to go back," she said.
Kevin Skelton described how his 16-year old daughter, whose cheek was scarred in the attack, had been "devastated" by a lawyer who remarked that she was "lucky" her whole face had not been affected.
Other victims, including men, have endured similar ordeals and the Omagh families are now demanding that the Northern Ireland Office Victims Minister, Des Browne, intervene and put a stop to the "shoddy treatment".
An NIO spokeswoman confirmed that Mr Browne will investigate claims by some victims that they were treated "appallingly" by the Compensation Agency.
She said: "We recognise this is a sensitive and painful issue for all concerned and the greatest possible care is taken when assessing compensation".
Sir Kenneth Bloomfield, who chaired a review of criminal injuries compensation and is a former victims minister, said there were lessons to be learned.
"I think if a valid medical practitioner is able to produce convincing evidence that the injuries are of a certain kind, it is difficult to see why less qualified people should question that," he said.
"Clearly it is particularly sensitive for women to find themselves subjected to this kind of examination."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1088
Published Date: 29-Aug-02
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