The former principal biochemist in the Blood Transfusion Service Board, Cecily Cunningham, is to go on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on charges relating to the infection of seven women with Hepatitis C.
Ms Cunningham (66) of Hollybrook Road, Clontarf, Dublin, lost a High Court bid to stop her trial on the charges which have arisen from alleged contaminated blood products.
Judge Katherine Delahunt rejected a defence application not to proceed with fixing with a trial date on the basis that Ms Cunningham is to appeal to the Supreme Court against the High Court decision of July 7th last.
The judge noted the High Court had not placed a stay on the trial going ahead after being told variously by the prosecution that the trial could take up to four weeks and by the defence that it might take from four to six months. A trial date will be fixed on November 15th next.
Mr Justice Liam McKechnie in his High Court decision found that while what he called an "inordinate and inexcusable" delay on the Director of Public Prosecution's part in processing the case breached Ms Cunningham's constitutional right to a speedy trial, there was a "far superior" and "paramount" right of the public" to have the charges prosecuted.