Supreme Court action delays Hep C infection trial

A stay has been put on fixing a Circuit Court trial date for the former principal biochemist in the Blood Transfusion Service Board on charges relating to the infection of women with Hepatitis C.

Ms Cecily Cunningham (aged 66), of Hollybrook Road, Clontarf lost a High Court bid to stop her trial on the charges, which have arisen from alleged contaminated blood products affecting seven women. She has lodged an appeal in the Supreme Court.

Ms Kathleen Leader BL, for Ms Cunningham, told Judge Katherine Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that the judical review was still outstanding before the Supreme Court.

Mr Shane Murphy SC, prosecuting, told Judge Delahunt that a stay had been preventing the trial going ahead at this stage.

Mr Murphy asked for the case to come back before the Circuit Court early next year noting that "witnesses are ill and we are anxious to avoid delays."

Judge Delahunt directed that the matter come before her again for mention in March to see how it could be progressed.