Appeal to Data Protection Commissioner in symphysiotomy row

A Dublin law firm has written to the Data Protection Commissioner in the deepening row over the proposed shredding of symphysiotomy records.

FP Logue Solicitors, representing Survivors of Symphysiotomy (SOS), wrote to the commissioner on Wednesday evening.

The letter states that destroying the records of symphysiotomy survivors would be “a grave violation of their fundamental rights under European Union and international human rights law”.

It calls on the commissioner to “intervene decisively” in her role as “guardian of privacy rights”.

The Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme website has asked applicants to get in touch to tell them whether their application and supporting documents should be returned or shredded.

It has asked those who want their documents to be returned to make themselves known before Sunday 20 March 2016.

The Irish Times has published two open letters, one from lawyers and academics, and the other from human rights lawyers, opposing the shredding of any documents.

A spokeswoman for commissioner Helen Dixon said the letter from FP Logue Solicitors “will be considered”.