THE Blood Transfusion Service Board apologised unreservedly in the High Court yesterday for the suffering and distress caused to Ms Mary Quinlan, after it was announced that the hepatitis C victim's damages claim against it had been settled.
The claim had been settled "on terms agreed between the parties", the court heard. The BTSB expressed "profound regret" to Ms Quinlan and apologised unreservedly for her suffering and the distress which she had suffered through its fault.
Ms Quinlan's action against the Minister for Health, Ireland and the Attorney General had also been settled and it could be struck out with no order, it was stated. Proceedings by Ms Quinlan against the National Drugs Advisory Board, now the Irish Medical Board, had been withdrawn.
Ms Quinlan, a mother of eight, from Greenhills, Brownshill Road, Carlow, issued proceedings against the defendants in 1995.
Yesterday, Mr Richard Nesbitt SC, for Ms Quinlan, said the matter had been settled and he asked the court to make a series of orders on consent. The claim against the BTSB had been settled on terms agreed between the parties. He asked that the claim be struck out.
Mr Paul Gallagher SC, for the BTSB, said he agreed to the settlement. He wanted to take the opportunity to express the board's position in relation to the matter.
"The BTSB and its staff, past and present, wish to express profound regret and apologise unreservedly for Ms Quinlan's suffering and distress which she has suffered through the fault of the BTSB," he said.
The BTSB reaffirmed that it had taken all steps to ensure that there would be no repeat of the tragedy suffered by Ms Quinlan. Mr Gallagher said.
Mr John Coughlan SC, for the Minister for Health, Ireland and the Attorney General, said the Minister was happy that the case had been resolved to the satisfaction of Ms Quinlan and he expressed regret that she had suffered.
Mr Nesbitt said Ms Quinlan's claims against the NDAB would stand dismissed and it would bear its own costs.
Mr Patrick Hanratty SC, for the NDAB, said the case against his client had been withdrawn. The NDAB expressed its deepest sympathy to Ms Quinlan for the unfortunate circumstances in which she found herself.
Ms Quinlan had claimed that on dates unknown, until after the discovery of documents, the BTSB and the Minister had made available to the public, blood products licensed by the NDAB. She alleged she was administered Anti- D immunoglobulin from her second child onwards.
When the case was before the court last October, Mr Nesbitt in seeking an early date for the hearing of her action, said that Ms Quinlan had suffered damage to her liver which was likely to be fatal and that in those circumstances, there was concern that the case got on before the inevitable occurred.