The last witness scheduled to give evidence to the Lindsay Tribunal has been unable to attend. His absence is due to an illness connected with being infected with Hepatitis C from a contaminated blood product.
The solicitor for the Irish Haemophilia Society told the Lindsay Tribunal this morning that it was poignant the last witness due to testify was incapable of doing so due to his condition. Raymond Bradley read into the record a statement given by the witness, who used the pseudonym James.
The witness said in the statement that his brother had already been infected with HIV from clothing agents when he was diagnosed as having Hepatitis C at the age of 13. He described the three years on "Inteferon" medication as hellish, adding that he and his wife desperately wanted children but this was not possible.
After the Tribunal adjourned, it was announced that another man with haemophilia, who had also been infected with Hepatitis C, had died. This brings the total death toll to 78.
Rosemary Daly of the Irish Haemophilia Society said that the man had also hoped to give evidence. She said that his death showed the pain of the haemophilia community was not over, even though the Tribunal was drawing to a close.
The Lindsay Tribunal will resume next week for closing submission.
