Families of babies swapped at birth get over Sh140m compensation

Cannes: Two families whose babies were swapped at birth twenty years ago have now been awarded almost €2 million (£1.5million) in compensation.

A clinic in the south of France was ordered to pay €400,000 to each of the babies swapped, €300,000 euros to three parents concerned and €60,000 to three siblings as part of a €1.88 million (£1.4million) settlement.

Two female babies born in the same hospital were exchanged accidentally by an auxiliary who was caring for the little girls.

On July 4 1994 Sophie Serrano, gave birth to a a girl at a clinic in Cannes.

Her daughter Manon, who had jaundice, was put in an incubator next to a newborn with the same condition.

But the babies were returned to the wrong mothers, in neighbouring private rooms.

When Sophie complained her daughter’s skin was too dark she was told incubator lamps were to blame.

Both mums said they were unsure about the babies pointing out their different hair lengths, but they were sent home anyway.

Three years later, Manon's hair grew curly and her skin olive-toned - unlike either parent.

Her father separated from Ms Serrano after village rumours spread about the young girl being "the postman's daughter".

In 2004, DNA tests showed Manon was the daughter of neither of them.

An investigation was launched and their biological child was located less than 20 miles away.

Both girls met their biological parents when they were ten but they did not ask to be switched back.

Manon said after the closed-door hearing for the trial in December: "It was a pretty disturbing moment,

"You find yourself in front of a woman who is biologically your mother but who is a stranger."

The two families have distanced themselves from each other since the meeting ten years ago.

Sophie Serrano said in December: "It's too difficult, so we each went our separate ways as it's so distressing."

"It was the only way to find some stability again."

The suit brought in 2010 by the two families also targeted two doctors and the nurse's assistant who made the switch, but the court did not convict them.

The amount awarded was significantly less than the €12milllion they had sought.

But the lawyer for the victims said he was satisfied with the ruling at the Court in Grasse, south of France, today.

Gilbert Collard, said: "I am perfectly satisfied (with the ruling) because responsibility within the medical chain was acknowledged,

"The families had sought a total of €12million (£9million), but had little hope of obtaining that amount."

Ms Serrano, who raised Manon, said she was relieved that the mistake had been acknowledged.

She said: "It's a relief. We have waited for this for so long."

The other family have chosen to remain anonymous throughout the proceedings.