Drugs given to care home girls 'caused birth defects'

TEN girls who were heavily sedated while in a care home during the Seventies and Eighties went on to have children with a range of birth defects.

The teenagers were restrained with huge doses of tranquillisers and other drugs at Kendall House, run by the Church of England in Gravesend, Kent, according to Radio 4's Today programme.

It is feared hundreds of other girls who were in care homes during the same period and suffered the same mistreatment may also be at risk of having children with birth defects.

According to files from Kendall House, which is no longer a care home, girls were given huge doses of a number of drugs over a long period.

Former resident Teresa Cooper's eldest son was born with respiratory difficulties, her second son is blind and has learning difficulties, and her daughter was born with a cleft palate and short lower jaw.

Ms Cooper, who left the home in 1984 at 16, was given medication at least 1,248 times in 32 months, including tranquillisers, anti-depressants, and up to 10 times the recommended dose of Valium. Nine other former residents have also had children with birth defects.

In a statement issued through the Church of England, the Diocese of Rochester said it was unable to discuss individual circumstances for legal reasons but would co-operate with any future inquiry.