Judge refuses to expand haemophiliac inquiry

Judge Alison Lindsay, the chairperson of the tribunal investigating the infection of Irish haemophiliacs with HIV and Hepatitis C, has refused a Government request to expand the inquiry’s terms of reference.

Health Minister Micheal Martin had asked Judge Lindsay to widen the scope of the tribunal to include scrutiny of US pharmaceutical companies which exported contaminated blood to Ireland.

The Irish Haemophiliac Society, which represents the 252 haemophiliacs affected by the scandal, said today’s news is a huge setback.

However, there is speculation that the Government may establish a separate inquiry to deal with the US companies suspected of causing the crisis.