How do you know, the ceramics were nearly short?
Did you remove them and read them, as in circuit they may well have some signs of resistance. Unless they are dead short, they are proberly fine.
Only way to check 100% is to remove them and test them.
I certainly would not be messing with paula. Its a video fault, so if leakage, check DAC, BT101 and Denise areas.
Bypassing things is not a great idea, did you actually solve that issue, as you do not say exactly.
PCB Explorer is anawesome tool, to help see where damaged track goes.
http://amigapcb.org/