Lawyer to outline Chinese 'organ scandal'

A respected US human rights lawyer who has alleged the Chinese military routinely harvests organs from prisoners is to detail his findings in Dublin today.

The shocking report, written by David Matas and former Canadian secretary of state for the Asia-Pacific region David Kilgour, is to be presented to Dáil TDs.

It notes that China has no organ-donor scheme, yet hospitals, many run or staffed by army medics, routinely offer the surgery.

It claims imprisoned members of the outlawed Falun Gong spiritual group are being singled out for the surgery and many die in the process.

The authors, while admitting they have no evidence that on its own supports the allegations of organ-harvesting, claimed a combination of pieces of evidence has convinced them this is happening.

The report was first published last summer but the authors said they have been given new information and will present the updated findings in Trinity College today.

Mr Matas will then bring the report to the Oireachtas Sub-committee on Human Rights. He will also address the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee, who discussed the matter at a meeting last November, tomorrow.