The remains of a mother of two who died in King's College Hospital, London, while waiting for a liver transplant were flown home to Cork yesterday afternoon.
Mrs Sylvia O'Leary (32), from Ballincollig, Co Cork, lost her battle for life last week. Her husband, Des, kept a bedside vigil at the hospital in the days and hours prior to his wife's death.
The Cork woman contracted hepatitis C after a contaminated blood product was used during a liver transplant in London in 1990.
Her compensation claim had to be finalised outside the scope of the hepatitis C compensation tribunal because Mrs O'Leary was only informed of her positive status in the spring of 2001 - after the closing date for claims to the statutory inquiry.
Mrs O'Leary's remains were taken to a funeral home in Turner's Cross, Cork, yesterday afternoon. A private removal was held last night to St Mary and St John's Church.