Due to a production error in yesterday's Irish Times the evidence of some witnesses was transposed. This is deeply regretted. An edited version of the report appears below.
A haemophiliac who contracted HIV through infected blood products has testified to seeing a document in St James's Hospital, Dublin, telling staff to "play down" the dangers regarding AIDS.
The man, using the pseudonym "Brendan", said he was "very annoyed" by the document which, he said, he came across in the early 1980s while in the hospital for treatment.
He further claimed that when he tested positive for the virus in August 1985 he was told by a consultant, Dr Helena Daly, not to worry and that "it wasn't like it was going to kill me". He said he had been tested for HIV without his knowledge, adding that he was spoken to for just five minutes by way of counselling.
Counsel for Dr Daly, Mr Brian McGovern SC, said his client rejected this claim and would give evidence that she had counselled the patient for 30 minutes. This was supported by hospital records, said Mr McGovern.
He said Dr Daly would further testify that she tried to reassure Brendan about the situation. "If she did, it didn't work," Brendan replied.
Asked if he would have refused the HIV test if it had been offered, Brendan said not if the dangers of AIDS had been explained to him. He said he knew nothing about the disease and was told nothing.
A severe haemophilia A sufferer, Brendan said he was treated with cryoprecipitate until about 1982 and with factor concentrates thereafter. After testing positive for HIV, he said, he stopped using concentrates for about a year and only took them up again "when we were told the treatments were safe".
He subsequently contracted hepatitis C which, he said, he may not have got had he stayed off the treatment.
Two other haemophiliacs in his family, his elder brother and an uncle, had died of AIDS, he said. "Somebody must be held accountable. I am depending on this tribunal to tell me who."
A second haemophiliac, a father of two who contracted hepatitis C, also gave evidence.
Using the pseudonym "Cecil", he said he had been discriminated against in his workplace because of his condition. The compensation he received from the State was "held against me", he said, adding that knowledge of his situation among his seniors at work had hindered him from getting promotions.
Cecil, a mild haemophiliac, said he had only received six or seven treatments of Factor 8 concentrate and just one treatment of cryo in his lifetime. After testing positive in 1992, he said, he was offered no "indepth" advice or counselling.