O'Hanlon to testify at Lindsay Tribunal

Another former health minister is to take the witness stand at the Lindsay Tribunal today.

Rory O'Hanlon, who served in the position from 1987 to 1991, will be questioned on his knowledge of the importation of infected blood products.

Yesterday, his predecessor Barry Desmond described as "indefensible and dreadful" the fact that inaccurate information about the safety of blood products conveyed to his department.

In 1985, Mr Desmond said such products had been heat treated to destroy HIV, although it is now known that the products went on to infect more people. 75 people have since died as a result of contaminated blood transfers.