1973: Final deal for thalidomide victims

The drugs company who marketed thalidomide have agreed to pay more than £20 million in compensation to those born with birth defects as a result, at the end of an 11-year legal battle.

Over 400 British children whose mothers took the drug during pregnancy will benefit from the payout by Distillers Company, which marketed the German-manufactured drug in Britain.

The company will pay £6 million in direct claims and will also set up a £14 million trust fund to look after the children's future.

The court hearing follows a high-profile campaign in the media calling for more compensation for thalidomide families.

Amid mounting pressure from politicians and the public, including its own shareholders and workers, the company agreed a settlement representing about 40% of what each child might have received had his or her family sued Distillers individually.

The families have undertaken to withdraw all allegations of negligence in return.

Birth defects

Thalidomide became notorious in the 1960s when it was prescribed to pregnant women to ease morning sickness.

It was found to cause severe birth defects, and thousands of children across the world were born limbless or with severely shortened limbs.

More cases have come to light as a result of the publicity, with another 32 coming forward in the last six months alone.

The deal follows a long-standing challenge to Distillers over the amount of damages it offered in its original settlement in 1968.

Francis Purchas QC, the lawyer representing the children, paid tribute to the "courageous stand" taken by parents in disputing the amount offered by Distillers.

Denial

David Mason, whose daughter Louise was born without limbs after his wife took the thalidomide drug in early pregnancy, has led the campaign for greater compensation for victims.

Outside the court today he said, "I am happy at the result and the ending to this saga."

The lawyer for Distillers, John Wilmers QC, said the lengthy court proceedings had prevented the company from putting right what he called false allegations made against them over the years.

"My clients have always denied and continue to deny that either they or any of the scientists and medical men who advised them were in any way negligent," he said.

The families will receive cheques for £5,000 within the next few weeks as the first part of the settlement, but it may take more than a year to assess how much each child will receive from the £6 million lump sum and from the trust fund.

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