Sir, – We [academics, historians and archivists] are writing to express our concern at the plans to shred documentation associated with the Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme.
As we understand it, concerned parties have been given until March 20th to express their desire to have their documents shredded or returned to them.
There is, however, no clarity as to what will happen to the records of those who do not see this announcement, realise the implications or respond within such a short time frame.
Furthermore, it is unclear as to why returning applicants their records as a matter of course is not “reasonably possible”, as per the terms of reference of the scheme.
While some of the documentation might consist of copies made of original records, such records may be difficult or impossible for applicants to retrieve in the future.
We urge Maureen Harding Clarke to see that submitted records are returned to all applicants by post.
This course of action would honour the recommendation of the original scheme’s terms of reference, which were the basis on which the women agreed to submit their personal documentation.
Returning their documents to them, rather than consigning them to the shredder, would also afford the women involved in the scheme the right that their stories be remembered and is in keeping with the Universal Declaration on Archives as developed by the International Council on Archives.
– Yours, etc,
Dr Fiachra Byrne, School of History, University College Dublin
Dr Catherine Cox, School of History, University College Dublin
Dr Deirdre Duffy, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Manchester Metropolitan University
Dr Lindsey Earner-Byrne, School of History, University College Dublin
Dr Carole Holohan, Department of History, Trinity College Dublin
Dr Sandra McAvoy, Women’s Studies, University College Cork
Dr Jennefir Redmond, Department of History, Maynooth University
Dr Diane Urquhart, Institute of Irish Studies, University of Liverpool
Contact details Dr Fiachra Byrne, School of History, University College Dublin (School of History, Newman Building, Belfield, Dublin 4.
Dr Catherine Cox, School of History, University College Dublin (School of History, Newman Building, Belfield, Dublin 4.
Dr Deirdre Duffy, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Manchester Metropolitan University (Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Manchester Metropolitan University, Crewe Campus, Crewe.
Dr Lindsey Earner-Byrne, School of History, University College Dublin (School of History, Newman Building, Belfield, Dublin 4.
Dr Carole Holohan, Department of History, Trinity College Dublin
Dr Sandra McAvoy, Women’s Studies, University College Cork (Women’s Studies, c/o School of History, University College Cork, Western Road, Cork. Dr Jennefir Redmond, Department of History, Maynooth University
Dr Diane Urquhart, Institute of Irish Studies, University of Liverpool
Sir, – The proposal by the Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme to shred the records of applicants to the scheme after March 20th should be immediately reversed and challenged by the Government.
As feminist activists, writers, academics, arts workers and artists of all kinds who support, promote and advocate for women, we condemn this move as yet another example of the ongoing systemic mistreatment of women by the State.
To destroy these records is to erase unique evidence of a fundamental violation of women’s bodies in Irish maternity hospitals that took place from the 1940s to the 1980s.
Those women who had this harrowing and irreversible procedure performed on them, typically without consent, deserve better. The patient records entrusted to the scheme belong to them. They should never be destroyed and should be returned to them, by post, automatically – not left for collection by often elderly, infirm women.
Women should be asked for their consent to have their records archived, so that this atrocity can be documented by future investigators and historians. – Yours, etc,
LIAN BELL
Dublin 8
Rachel Andrews ,Montentotte, Cork
Aideen Barry, The Studio, Clonfurrish, County Clare
Cecily Brennan, Harold’s Cross, Dublin 6W
Sheelagh Broderick, Baltimore, Co Cork
Claire Brophy, Dublin 22
Michelle Browne, Dublin 1
Sarah Browne, Glasnevin, Dublin 9
Dee Burke, South Circular Road, Kilmainham, Dublin 8
Alice Butler, Rathmines, Dublin 6
Michelle, Cahill Cabra, Dublin 7
Dr Susan Cahill, Assistant Professor, School of Irish Studies Concordia University, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
Philomena Canning, Chairperson, Midwives for Choice
Vaari Claffey, Rathmines Dublin 6
Sarah Clancy, The Burren, Co Clare
Ella Clarke, Kells, Co. Meath.
Evelyn Conlon, Rathmines, Dublin 6
Valerie Connor, Glasnevin, Dublin 11
Dr Vicky Conway, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9
Amanda Coogan, Ballinteer, Dublin 16
Margarita Corscadden, Portobello, Dublin 8
Catriona Crowe, Dublin 3
Cindy Cummings, Rathmines, Dublin 6
Pauline Cummins, County Wicklow
Sabine Dargent, Dublin 8
Celia de Freine, Dublin 6
Vivienne Dick, Inchicore, Dublin 8
Amanda Donovan, Salthill, Galway
Lelia Doolan, Co. Galway
Theo Dorgan, Baldoyle, Dublin 13
Catherine Dunne, Ranelagh, Dublin 6
Sarah Durcan, Castle Street, Dublin 2
Christine Dwyer Hickey, Palmerstown, Dublin
Anne Enright, Brooklyn 11238 NY
Rachel Fallon, Bray, Co. Wicklow
Elaine Feeney, Athenry, Co. Galway
Kate Ferris, Dublin 8
Emma Finucane, Southern Cross Business Park, Bray, Co.Wicklow
Emma Fitzgerald, Rathfarnham, D16
Doreen Fitzmaurice, Wexford
Sophie Flynn, Artane, Dublin 5
Olwen Fouere, Ranelagh, Dublin 6
Sarah Francis, Dublin 2
Dr James Gallen, Dublin City University, Glasnevin Dublin 9
Roise Goan, Fade Street, Dublin 2
Paula Geraghty, Cork Street, Dublin 8
Tessa Giblin, Phibsborough, Dublin 7
Sinead Gleeson, Crumlin, Dublin 12
Dr. Lisa Godson, National College of Art and Design,
Nicky Gogan, Smithfield Dublin 7
Katrina Goldstone, Wilton Place, Dublin 2
Deirdre Griffin, Fairview, Dublin 3
Fiona Hallinan, Dublin 8
Kate Harris, Dublin 12
Alice Mary Higgins, Circular Road, Galway
Rita Ann Higgins, Bally Bane, Galway
Breffni Holahan, Cabinteely, Dublin 18
Tracey Holt, Tonafora, Bantry Road, Dunmanway
Martina Hynan, Ennis, Co. Clare
Garry Hynes, Dublin 8
Jesse Jones, 39 East Essex Street, Dublin 2
Eithne Jordan, Clontarf, Dublin 3
Alisha Kaplan, Brooklyn, NY 11238 USA
Úna Kavanagh, Navan Road, Dublin 7
Fiona Keller, Inchicore, Dublin 8
Jessica Kennedy, Islandbridge, Dublin 8
Claire Kilroy, Baldoyle, Dublin 13
Deirdre Kinahan, Navan, Meath
Dr. Tina Kinsella, Trinity College Dublin
Julie Kelleher, Boreenmanna Road, Cork.
Inger Sofie Lillesto, Ashford, Co. Wicklow
Dr. Silvia Loeffler, Maynooth University,
Fiona Loughnane, Maynooth University
Louise Lowe, Dublin 7
Alice Maher, Claremorris, Co. Mayo
Catherine Marshall, Portobello, Dublin 8
Emma Martin, Kilbride, Co. Carlow
Louise Mathews, Newtownabbey, BT36 6PS
Margaret Mc Auliffe, Clontarf Dublin 3
Sinead Mckenna, Haddington Rd, Dublin 4
Lisa McInerney, Gort, Co. Galway
Lieselle McMahon, Howth, Co. Dublin
Paula Meehan, Baldoyle, Dublin 13
Eleanor Methven, Kilmainham
Lia Mills, Killiney, Co Dublin
Geraldine Moane, University College Dublin, Dublin 4
Sophie Motley, Blessington, co Wicklow
Gina Moxley, Kilmainham, Dublin 8
Celina Muldoon, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal
Una Mullally, Dublin 2
Mags Mulvey, Victoria, Australia
Eimer Murphy,The Coombe, Dublin 8
Oonagh Murphy, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7
Laura Murray, Clonsilla, Dublin 15
Doireann Ni Bhriain, Rathmines, Dublin 6,
Bairbre Ni Chaoimh, Broadstone, Dublin 7.
Siobhán Ní Dhuinnín, The Lough, Cork
Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, GalwayDoireann Ní Ghríofa, Ballincollig, Cork
Dr Tanya Ní Mhuirthile, School of Law and Government, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin Ríonach Ní Néill, Co na Gaillimh
Bryan O’Connell, Carlow, Co. Carlow
Aislinn O’Donnell, North Circular, Dublin 1
Colin O’Donoghue , Ashford, Co. Wicklow
Liv O’Donoghue, Phibsborough D7
Katherine O’Malley, Court Place, Carlow
Jody O’Neill, Long Lane, Dublin 8
Louise O’Neill, Clonakilty, West Cork
Martha O’Neill, Wildfire Films, 61-63 Dame Street, Dublin 2
Yvonne O’Reilly, Castle Street, Dublin 2
Dr. Emer O’Toole, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Lynne Parker, Rough Magic Theatre Company, 18 South Great Georges Street, Dublin 2
Áine Phillips, Ennis Co. Clare
Sarah Pierce, Portobello, Dublin 8
Sarah Purcell, Clonshaugh, Dublin 17
Morna Regan, LONDON SE15 4EF UK
Rebecca Reilly, South Circular Road, Dublin 8
Liz Roche, Dublin 7
Annie Ryan, Dublin 4
Sarah Jane Shiels, Glasthule, Co Dublin
Maeve Stone, Glasnevin, Dublin 9
Dominic Thorpe, Newbridge, Kildare
Marie Tierney, East Wall, Dublin 3
Dylan Tighe, Dublin 4
Dr. Sorcha Uí Chonnachtaigh, School of Law, Keele University
Yvonne Ussher, Dublin 12
Saoirse Wall, Dublin 7
Eileen Walsh, London,
Louise Walsh, Oldcastle, Co Meath
Fiona Whelan, Terenure, Dublin 6
Orla Whelam, Drimnagh, Dublin 12.
Louise White, Rathgar, Dublin 6