HSE chief denies officials are delaying Scally inquiry

The HSE’s interim director general denies that officials are trying to delay the Scally cervical cancer tests inquiry by failing to provide searchable records, amid growing fears that the State investigation is being blocked.

Interim director general John Connaghan issued the staunch HSE defence as he said electronic, searchable versions of the records were always available and as officials said that laboratory contracts key to the scandal will be released next week.

Speaking as another senior HSE official faced calls to resign after it emerged that he wrongly told politicians he never told the State Claims Agency all women affected were informed of what happened last year, Mr Connaghan said he wants all files to be made available to Gabriel Scally’s investigation.