A WOMAN who claims she was infected with the Hepatitis C virus from infected blood had discovered in documents matters which indicated knowledge by the defendants as far back as 1976 regarding a specific donor, the High Court was told yesterday.
The woman is suing the Blood Transfusion Service Board, the Minister for Health, the National Drugs Advisory Board, Ireland and the Attorney General. Last month the High Court ruled that the woman, using the adopted name "Bridget M. Roe", could not sue under an assumed name.
Yesterday, the President of the High Court, Mr Justice Costello, gave leave to counsel for the woman to bring a motion before the court next Wednesday to amend her statement of claim.
Mr John Rogers SC, for the woman, said his application was for liberty to serve a notice of motion for next week. He was looking for an order to amend the proceedings.
"In the process of discovery [of documents], matters have become known to the plaintiff which indicate a state of knowledge on the part of the defendants as far back as 1976 in relation to a specific donor," Mr Rogers said.