LEGAL PROCEEDINGS have begun in four claims against the Defence Forces over the use of controversial anti-malarial drug Lariam. Minister for Defence Alan Shatter said the State Claims Agency was dealing with the issue.
He said it would not be appropriate for him to comment on individual cases other than to say legal proceedings had been served in respect of four claims.
Sinn Féin defence spokesman Jonathan O’Brien had asked whether the Minister had received correspondence from lawyers for current or former Defence Forces members on Lariam. Mr Shatter said a procedure was in place to check medical background beforehand to establish whether personnel had depression or any other health issue, which would make Lariam inappropriate.
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