Expert medical witness changed his view on anti-malaria drug

A medical expert witness who claimed a soldier accused of sexual assault had displayed symptoms of side effects from the anti-malaria drug Lariam, has acknowledged he previously dismissed the importance of any such side effects.

Dr Ashley Croft, a former adviser to the British military in tropical medicine and infectious diseases, told a court martial in Dublin Lariam has been linked to symptoms of sleep loss, nightmares, forgetfulness and psychotic behaviour. He said potential side effects were exacerbated when taken by those who consumed alcohol around the same time.

Assault charge

Dr Croft was giving evidence for the defence in the case of the soldier , a private, who was charged with sexual assault of a female colleague and two counts relating to discipline.

The court has heard the accused was given Lariam on overseas tours and on return from one trip had been given a concurrent, similar anti-malaria drug Primaquine. The court heard the private had also been drinking heavily.

Toxic effects

Dr Croft has previously told the court the effects of Lariam were powerfully “toxic” on some people, a subset of whom could become psychotic.

But yesterday counsel for the Office of Military Director of Public Prosecutions Cmdt Fintan McCarthy put it to Dr Croft he had given contradictory evidence to a military court martial in Britain in 1996.

Cmdt McCarthy said Dr Croft had appeared for the prosecution in that case and argued Lariam’s toxicity was “mild to moderate”. He also put it to Dr Croft he had told the British court martial there was no adverse pharmacological link between mefloquine – the generic name for Lariam – and the use of alcohol.

Dr Croft acknowledged changing his position on the drug, saying science evolved.