The Lindsay Tribunal had heard evidence from a former Chief Medical Consultant of the BTS, who said that he was not really suitable for the job. Dr Vincent Barry, Chief Medical Consultant of the Blood Transfusion Service between 1985 and 1987, was offered the position while sitting in a car, even though on his own admission he did not know very much about blood products for haemophiliacs.
Dr Barry told the Tribunal that he was not welcomed by his medical colleagues in Pelican House when he took the post in 1986, and was not informed of all matters. He said that he was reluctant to take the post because of what he called a hellish workload in Cork. He said that he was not really a suitable person, as he did not know very much about blood products. He said that he chiefly worked in relation to mothers and young children and problems with blood around birth. Dr Barry was appointed Regional Director of the Cork BTS office in 1976. He said that he had no idea why a drive between 1981 and 1983 to make concentrated blood products in Ireland was discontinued, and a commercial company hired to do the job.
In June 1986 Dr Barry received what was described as a 'devastating' letter which outlining the strong probability that five or maybe six haemophiliacs had become infected with HIV from using the Pelican House produced Factor 9 clotting. It was put to Dr Barry that as Chief Medical Consultant he had the ultimate responsibility to ensure that haemophilia treating centres and hospitals were informed of the findings and that the product was re-called, something that did not happen.
Dr Barry responded by stating that he had returned to work in Cork in May or June of that year with the permission of the Chair of the Board and so was relieved of such duties. Dr Barry had difficulty recalling various documents or meetings he had attended, including when he was first informed about the infection of a haemophiliac in Cork with HIV in June 1985. He will continue his testimony tomorrow.
