Protesters demand justice for victims of Thalidomide

Many have never received any compensation despite being born with severe disabilities caused by the morning sickness medication.

Demonstrators will gather outside the German embassy from noon to mark the 50th anniversary of the drug's introduction to Britain and to demand billions of pounds from the German government and the maker of the pill.

The Thalidomide scandal is regarded as one of the worst man-made disasters of the 20th century.

The drug was hailed as a breakthrough cure for pregnant women suffering from the symptoms of morning sickness. But the German manufacturer Grunenthal did not carry out adequate tests on its side effects, which included damage to the unborn embryo.

The result was that an estimated 10,000 babies were born with severe disabilities ranging from malformed limbs, missing arms, brain damage and genital deformities.

The drug was not withdrawn in Britain until 1961.It was marketed under the name Thalidomide in the UK and as Contergan in the rest of Europe.

There are around 3,500 survivors around the world today including just over 400 in Britain. To date, the cost of the side effects to social and health services around the world is estimated to be in excess of £2billion.

Neither the German government nor Grunenthal has ever accepted full responsibility for the damage to those affected. In Britain, the average sum paid to victims is around £18,000 a year but the actual cost of care for those with average disabilities is estimated to be at least double that amount.

Parents are the principal carers in the majority of cases but many are now finding themselves unable to cope because of their age and the stress of years of caring for disabled children.

The protest has been organised by the International Contergan Thalidomide Alliance which represents victims worldwide.

The campaign is backed by the National Advisory Council to the Thalidomide Trust.

Nicholas Dobrik, NACTT chairman, said those responsible for the scandal should be held to account for "gross negligence"-and for the immeasurable pain and suffering caused.

He said: "The ICTA objective is to empower the surviving Thalidomiders by enabling them to live independent lives with dignity in the face of extreme personal injury. This is a David versus Goliath battle and we will not rest until every surviving Thalidomider has been given the means to receive the care they need."

I took 'miracle' drug for three days

SADIE GALVIN took Thalidomide for just three days but it was enough to leave her son Dominic with brain damage, epilepsy, deformed hands and club ankles.

Doctors at Woking hospital in Surrey were unable to explain what was wrong when he was born 49 years ago. Instead, it took three years for the nurse, from Addlestone in Surrey, to find out herself what had caused his problems.

Mrs Galvin said: "When I was pregnant my GP told me she was giving me this 'miraculous' new drug and I had no reason to know there was going to be something wrong. It was only when I read a story in the newspaper about the drug that I realised what had happened."

Doctors confirmed that Thalidomide was to blame after checking Mrs Galvin's medical records.

At one point, Dominic nearly died after having a fit so Mrs Galvin now has to liquidise all his food.

Her wish is for a better compensation settlement for her son so that he can be looked after properly.

She said: "Dominic is very intelligent but my brain has to be his brain. He's like a learner driver - you have to be two people. I've brought Dominic up on my own and will give my last breath for him. I'm just a mother who loves her child. But I need money for his future."