The British government today began an investigation into why a victim of the Omagh bombing had to strip to her underwear during her campaign for compensation.
Ms Rosemary Ingram was subjected to a "degrading" ordeal in front of six lawyers, three of whom were men, while her case was examined.
Mrs Ingram (53) has told how one of those assessing her scars even moved her underwear to one side to get a better look at the wounds inflicted during the August 1998 atrocity.
A Northern Ireland Office spokeswoman today confirmed Victims' Minister Mr Des Browne had mounted an inquiry into the circumstances of her compensation case last April.
She said: "We recognise this is a sensitive and painful issue for all concerned and the greatest possible care is taken in assessing compensation. The minister, Des Browne, is aware of Mrs Ingram's case and is checking into the issue".
Mrs Ingram suffered shrapnel injuries to her legs, buttock, head and right shoulder after being caught in the "Real IRA" explosion which killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins.
Despite photos taken by her husband Tom, Mrs Ingram said she was made to feel like a victim all over again when she went before the compensation agency panel.
"It was almost as if I wasn't believed," she said. "I had to virtually strip to prove it, and that was not only embarrassing but degrading and humiliating - and felt like interrogation".
Former Northern Ireland Victims Commissioner Sir Kenneth Bloomfield said he accepted that compensation claims needed to be properly examined but said it should be done by the "most sympathetic means available".
PA