A 35 year old haemophiliac, whose lifespan may have been shortened because of a hepatitis C infection, has been awarded £324,000 by the state compensation tribunal.
His solicitor, Mr Raymond Bradley, of Malcomson-Law and Co, said his client had been infected when he was 14 as a result of being treated with contaminated blood factor concentrate several times a week.
Mr Richard Nesbitt SC and Mr Martin Hayden, counsel for the Dublin civil servant had told the tribunal that the applicant was married and had a family. His career would be affected by his chronic fatigue.
The tribunal chairman, Mr Justice Seamus Egan, who sat with Ms Eileen Lydon BL and Ms Shiela Cooney, solicitor, heard that there was a possibility that the infection might shorten the applicant's life.
Mr Bradley said his client bad opted for a once off settlement and was "very happy" with the amount. He has four weeks to decide whether or not to accept the tribunal's determination.