Blood tribunal vindicated after drugs firm charged

THE charging of Armour Pharmaceuticals in connection with the death of an Irish boy infected with tainted blood was a vindication of the Irish Haemophilia Society’s campaign for a State inquiry into the role of international drug companies.

Irish Haemophilia Society chairman Brian O’Mahony said the Lindsay Tribunal had the information that was available to the Canadian police, plus information relating to the infection of the child. “The tribunal refused to go into that area. It was a missed opportunity,” he said.

He said it was clear, from the society’s view, the firm was to blame for issuing unsafe product.

Following a five-year investigation, Armour Pharmaceuticals and one of its vice-presidents were hit with multiple criminal charges by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The Lindsay Tribunal found it was probable the young Irish haemophiliac, who since died of an AIDS-related illness, was infected with HIV by an Armour clotting agent.

The tribunal heard Armour knew there was doubt over the safety of its clotting agent when it issued 350 vials to the Blood Transfusion Service Board in the mid-eighties.

Meanwhile, Labour’s Liz McManus yesterday said she found “disturbing” Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s defence of the Lindsay Tribunal.

The minister has described the report as “a model of clarity, concision and fairness.”