Mother’s plea to David Cameron: Help us win payout for our disabled girl

A mother who took anti-epilepsy drugs during pregnancy and claims her daughter was born severely disabled as a result is appealing to the Prime Minister for legal aid to fund her fight for compensation.

Karen Buck, 39, is one of 170 parties suing pharmaceuticals firm Sanofi-aventis, saying children were born disabled after their mothers were advised to take Epilim while pregnant.

The firm is contesting the claims, maintaining it has always provided appropriate precautions and warnings on the risks associated with the drug's possible side effects.

Ms Buck's daughter Bridget Coyle, 12, has spina bifida, water on the brain and has been paralysed since birth. The case has already cost £3.2 million in legal aid over six years but funding has now been withdrawn. The families have until December 20 to find the money to fight their case.

Single mother-of-three Ms Buck, from Stanmore, has delivered a petition to David Cameron together with MP for Harrow East Bob Blackman, in a bid to have the support reinstated.

Mr Blackman has also written to the Lord Chancellor asking him to reinstate the legal aid.

But it is understood the decision was taken after the Legal Services Commission was advised by counsel that the case had a poor chance of succeeding.

A spokesman for Sanofi-aventis said: "The company is extremely sympathetic towards the claimants and their families, although we have always believed their case would be unsuccessful."