Rita de Brún sought the views of some therapists as she looked at the dark world of sadomasochism and BDSM

ABOUT 1,000 college places a year are to be reserved for less well-off students who will have points added to their Leaving Certificate results when competing with other applicants.

THE late writer, Hugh Leonard, received the traditional applause of the theatre world at his funeral mass in Dalkey yesterday at what mourners were told was his “final curtain call”.

THE Government, facing a final bill of almost €900 million to compensate people infected by contaminated blood, has been urged to take legal action against pharmaceutical companies in the United States who supplied the lethal products.

HAEMOPHILIACS infected by contaminated blood products have accused the Government of stonewalling in its pledge to examine the drug companies that supplied the tainted stock.

HAEMOPHILIACS have been waiting almost two years for the Government to come up with a formula for examining the role played by the US-based pharmaceutical firms in the blood contamination crisis.

Judge Alison Lindsay has attacked the Minister for Health whom she says failed to defend her report into the hepatitis and HIV blood scandal.

GROUPS representing people infected with hepatitis C through contaminated blood products have called for a meeting with the minister for health following yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling to limit compensation awards to some victims.

The health minister today ruled out the possibility of new legislation to increase compensation paid to hepatitis C victims infected by contaminated blood.

THE chairman of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) said he is in favour of opening all files to the public.

IT all got too much for one victim of the blood contamination scandal when the Dáil resumed its debate on the Lindsay Tribunal report yesterday.

THE role of US drug firms in the infection of hundreds of Irish haemophiliacs is set to be investigated, it emerged last night.