Delay in charges is puzzling

THE charging of two former senior officials of the Blood Transfusion Service in relation to the Hepatitis C investigation is a dramatic development.

In a surprise turn of events, both Dr Terry Walsh, former chief medical consultant, and Cecily Cunningham, a senior biochemist, have been charged under section 23 of the Offences Against the Person Act.

Dublin District Court heard they had “unlawfully and maliciously caused a noxious thing, namely infected Anti D’ to be used on seven mothers which caused them ‘grievous bodily harm’”.

As the charges relate to 1977-1992, it is opportune to ask why it has taken so long for this matter to come to court.

Without intending in any way to prejudice the outcome of this important case, the fact is that an agency of the State was complicit in ruining the health and destroying the lives of hundreds of women by giving them infected blood products.

But until now, nobody has been brought to book for the greatest health scandal in the history of the State.