Reports that there was no supply of plasma at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda to treat a haemophiliac who was admitted after being involved in a road traffic accident were rejected by the Minister for Health, Mr Cowen.

The claim was made at an inquest into the death of Mr Gordon Hearty (24) from Drogheda, on Wednesday. Replying on the adjournment to Mr Alan Shatter (FG, Dublin South), Mr Cowen said "contrary to certain reports, I under- stand that the hospital had a supply of plasma available to it on the day in question, and that it used the plasma in the treatment of Mr Hearty.

"I understand that the principal blood product required for Mr Hearty's treatment was the clotting agent know as Factor 8 and that the hospital also had supplies of this available. "I am informed that Mr Hearty was treated with Factor 8 from its existing stocks. The hospital ordered a further 60 vials from the Blood Transfusion Service Board (BTSB) at 4.30 p.m. and this was dispatched by taxi at 4.35 p.m.

"No request for frozen plasma was received by the BTSB from Our Lady's Hospital on the day in question."

Mr Cowen said that the North Eastern Health Board was undertaking a thorough investigation into the circumstances of Mr Hearty's death and would send a detailed clinical report to the Department.

He added that the important point to emphasise to the House was that the hospital had supplies of Factor 8 and plasma and both products were used in Mr Hearty's treatment.

He said that the North Eastern Health Board was not responsible for the hospital's operation at the time of Mr Hearty's accident in March.