Role of US drug firms to be investigated

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

Health Minister Micheál Martin is determined to press ahead with an inquiry and is expected to announce further details before the end of the year, after seeking further legal advice.

Drug firms based in the US exported infected blood products over a 20-year period resulting in the death of 74 haemophiliacs.