A LONDON-based law firm has been engaged by the Government to investigate the role played by US-based pharmaceutical firms in the blood contamination scandal.

EFFORTS by haemophiliacs to sue the drug companies responsible for infecting them with contaminated blood were yesterday stalled once more by the Government.

HAEMOPHILIACS found themselves facing yet another fight for justice after a meeting with Health Minister Micheál Martin yesterday.

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