TWO WOMEN, who developed hepatitis C as a result of being treated with infected blood products, have been awarded damages of £194,444 and £127,500 respectively by the compensation tribunal.
Yesterday's awards bring the total amount sanctioned by the tribunal to date to just under £1.2 million, divided among 15 claimants.
Both of yesterday's claimants were granted provisional awards which allow them, in the event of any deterioration in their health to seek increased compensation.
Ms Anne Marie McCrystal, of Lavelle and Coleman, solicitors, said both women had developed the virus, were suffering from associated depression and fatigue, and were being treated with interferon.
Ms McCrystal said the woman who had obtained the highest award was in her early 40s and was the mother of five children. She wished to remain anonymous. The second woman is a mother of ten from Co Dublin.
Ms McCrystal said both women were suffering from what was known as decompensated cirrhosis and could seek further compensation should any further complications develop.
The woman who had received the £194,444 had also suffered from muscular aches, an overactive thyroid and hair loss.
Both had been infected in 1977. Two other women held to be in the lower risk category were yesterday awarded once off payments of £30,000 and £25,000 each.