Ireland - 580m is paid out to Hep C patients over contamination

Posted: 23-Oct-2006 << BACK

Irish Medical Times By Sandra Ryan

At least 580m has been paid to hepatitis C patients who were contaminated by blood products, according to a solicitor on the Hepatitis C Compensation Board.

Ms Deirdre Hegarty said the tribunal has seen 1,600 cases since its inception in 1996.

Speaking to the Medico-Legal Society of Irelands conference in Dublin, Ms Hegarty said that between 1997 and the end of last year the Board awarded 2,444 people an aggregate of 579 million. The tribunal is hearing from people whose lives have been affected by their partners or spouses illness.

Between 2000 and 2005 there were 301 appeals to the High Court by people unhappy with the amount awarded to them by the tribunal, she said. These appeals cost 66 million.

Ms Hegarty said the tribunal would probably continue for a number of years.