Blood scandal compensation bill to exceed €1bn

The State's bill for compensating people infected by contaminated blood products provided by the Blood Transfusion Service is reportedly set to exceed €1bn.

Reports this morning say the tax-payer has already paid out €778m in compensation to more than 2,200 claimants affected by the scandal.

However, more than 1,000 cases are still waiting to be heard by the Lindsay Tribunal and the Government now estimates that the total compensation bill will be more than €1.1bn.

The tribunal has found that around 250 people were infected with HIV or Hepatitis C as a result of contaminated blood products used to treat haemophilia.

Another 1,600 were infected with Hepatitis C as a result of receiving contaminated anti-D blood products.