Father of vCJD victim criticises Harney

THE father of one of the Irish victims of the human form of mad cow disease yesterday criticised Health Minister Mary Harney for "brushing aside" their plea for compensation for the families involved.

At an inquest into the death of Mr Robert Moran's 24-year-old son, Jason, the coroner raised the possibility of a cluster of vCJD victims.

Dublin County Coroner, Kieran Geraghty, revealed that the only three Irish vCJD victims lived or had family within five miles of each other and called for a State investigation into his discovery.