OMAGH FAMILIES SLATE MINOR CHANGES TO VIEWING OF SCARS
Omagh families slate minor changes to viewing of scars
BY MARK DONNELLY
THE decision to continue the "humiliating" manner in which scars are viewed by lawyers in order to determine the extent of compensation to be rewarded to victims of violent crime has been slammed by victims of the Omagh bomb.
The decision is the result of an independent review carried out by Queen's University law professor Desmond Greer at the request of the Northern Ireland Office.
A number of recommendations have been submitted - the number of lawyers present is to be at a minimum; there will be steps to improve the quality of pictures and doctor's reports reducing the need for viewing; and the victims informed consent will be necessary, although the procedure remains largely the same.
The review was sparked after many of the victims of the Omagh bomb complained about the demeaning way in which they were treated during the viewing of their scars.
Kevin Skelton, whose daughter Shauna was subjected to this form of examination, said, "I am bitterly annoyed with the way Shauna was treated. She had months of doctor's appointments in the lead up to the court case but the solicitors treated her like a lump of meat."
Shauna, who was 17-years-old at the time of the bombing, was severely scarred on the side of her face.
"Looks are very important to a girl of that age," Kevin continued, "but when she was being examined by solicitors in the High Court, one of them said, 'It would be worse if both sides were scarred.'"
"The solicitors were pig ignorant. They are not qualified doctors so they simply terrorised the people."
When questioned on his response to the review's findings, he described it as, "a load of garbage."
"The NIO are absolute vermin and the results are typical them. We were told that if victims refused to be examined by lawyers they would receive no compensation."
"Tony Blair assured us that there would be no red tape and the proceedings would be fast tracked. People are still without compensation six years on. If this is fast, I'd hate to see what the slow track would be," he added.
Prof Greer's report concluded that the solicitors involved in the cases acted "in accordance" with the standards of their professional bodies.
Rosemary Ingram, who was also subjected to this treatment after she sustained shrapnel injuries in the bombing said, "From reading the report I get the impression that it doesn't seem to matter what I think or what happened to me."
The former traffic warden had to strip to her underwear in front of six solicitors, three of them male, as they examined her wounds.
"I am glad that people now will have some choice in the examination, but I didn't have that choice."
"No matter what he (Prof Greer) or anyone else thinks was acceptable, I know how humiliating it was," she said.
Prof Greer's findings revealed that prior to December 16, 2002, the procedure of viewing scars was held in consultation rooms in the court building. Since then, an additional room has been added for this purpose providing more suitable, surroundings.
The Northern Ireland Law Society and the Council of the Bar have welcomed the reports findings.
They said, " The review vindicates comprehensively the barristers and solicitors involved," and added that they would consider how best to take forward its recommendations.
Minister for Criminal Justice, John Spellar said, "I will give detailed and careful consideration to the report, and consult with relevant professional bodies, before reaching any decision in this sensitive area."
BY MARK DONNELLY
THE decision to continue the "humiliating" manner in which scars are viewed by lawyers in order to determine the extent of compensation to be rewarded to victims of violent crime has been slammed by victims of the Omagh bomb.
The decision is the result of an independent review carried out by Queen's University law professor Desmond Greer at the request of the Northern Ireland Office.
A number of recommendations have been submitted - the number of lawyers present is to be at a minimum; there will be steps to improve the quality of pictures and doctor's reports reducing the need for viewing; and the victims informed consent will be necessary, although the procedure remains largely the same.
The review was sparked after many of the victims of the Omagh bomb complained about the demeaning way in which they were treated during the viewing of their scars.
Kevin Skelton, whose daughter Shauna was subjected to this form of examination, said, "I am bitterly annoyed with the way Shauna was treated. She had months of doctor's appointments in the lead up to the court case but the solicitors treated her like a lump of meat."
Shauna, who was 17-years-old at the time of the bombing, was severely scarred on the side of her face.
"Looks are very important to a girl of that age," Kevin continued, "but when she was being examined by solicitors in the High Court, one of them said, 'It would be worse if both sides were scarred.'"
"The solicitors were pig ignorant. They are not qualified doctors so they simply terrorised the people."
When questioned on his response to the review's findings, he described it as, "a load of garbage."
"The NIO are absolute vermin and the results are typical them. We were told that if victims refused to be examined by lawyers they would receive no compensation."
"Tony Blair assured us that there would be no red tape and the proceedings would be fast tracked. People are still without compensation six years on. If this is fast, I'd hate to see what the slow track would be," he added.
Prof Greer's report concluded that the solicitors involved in the cases acted "in accordance" with the standards of their professional bodies.
Rosemary Ingram, who was also subjected to this treatment after she sustained shrapnel injuries in the bombing said, "From reading the report I get the impression that it doesn't seem to matter what I think or what happened to me."
The former traffic warden had to strip to her underwear in front of six solicitors, three of them male, as they examined her wounds.
"I am glad that people now will have some choice in the examination, but I didn't have that choice."
"No matter what he (Prof Greer) or anyone else thinks was acceptable, I know how humiliating it was," she said.
Prof Greer's findings revealed that prior to December 16, 2002, the procedure of viewing scars was held in consultation rooms in the court building. Since then, an additional room has been added for this purpose providing more suitable, surroundings.
The Northern Ireland Law Society and the Council of the Bar have welcomed the reports findings.
They said, " The review vindicates comprehensively the barristers and solicitors involved," and added that they would consider how best to take forward its recommendations.
Minister for Criminal Justice, John Spellar said, "I will give detailed and careful consideration to the report, and consult with relevant professional bodies, before reaching any decision in this sensitive area."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1632
Published Date: 29-Jan-04
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