A lab technician has told the Lindsay Tribunal of a research project which, if successful, may have stopped many haemophiliacs becoming infected with HIV and Hepatitis C. Brigid O'Rourke worked at the Blood Transfusion Service between 1981 and 1985, and was briefly involved in a project attempting to make concentrated clotting agents from Irish plasma. At the time, all concentrated clotting agents were imported because Pelican House could only produce a more cumbersome product which mostly required visits to hospitals.
Sean Hanratty, the BTS Senior Technical Officer, took responsibility for the project which was suddenly abandoned in 1984 in favour of a process involving pharmaceutical companies. Ms O'Rourke said that she only worked on the project for ten days over six months between 1981 and 1982. She said that Mr Hanratty told her in 1982 or 1983 that he was "very excited" as after clinical trials some concentrated clotting agent had been given to patients in St James' hospital.
Ms O'Rourke said that he did not inform her why the project was discontinued. A previous witness, Dr Emer Lawlor of the BTS, contended that the project was simply "unrealistic" but the blood bank was right to try. The Irish Haemophilia Society's legal team previously suggested that a drugs company might have funded the project. However Ms O'Rourke said that she was employed by the BTSB and paid by BTS cheques and was "aggrieved" at the suggestion that she was paid by an independent company.
Despite Ms O'Rourke's testimony, it remains unclear why a project said to have an "excellent clinical response" was abandoned. More than 220 haemophiliacs were infected from contaminated blood products, 75 of whom have died.
The Tribunal will next month hear additional evidence from haemophiliacs infected with HIV and Hepatitis C from blood products. RTÉ News understands that as many as 60 victims and relatives wish to testify. It is believed that their evidence will begin at the end of November and continue into early December. The Tribunal has now adjourned and will not sit again until Tuesday week.
