There was a protest today at a sitting of the Laffoy Commission into child abuse allegations.
The Commission is inquiring into vaccine trials carried out on children in institutions between 1940 and 1987. The vaccines included those for diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus.
People who are concerned that they might have been used as "guinea pigs" in these tests stood up at the back of the room and vociferously protested the proceedings.
They said they did not want legal representation from the State foisted upon them because they had been "muzzled" by the State in the past and wanted their own legal representatives.
Ms Justice Mary Laffoy said she would consider the request.
According to the Irish Survivors of Child Abuse (Irish SOCA), those who feel they may be victims say they are caught in a catch 22 situation in that the only way they can discover if they are victims of any Vaccine Trials is by attending the Commission.
According to Irish SOCA, this means that those who may be responsible for carrying out or performing any clinical or vaccine trials on them, with or without their permission, will be protected from civil action by the privilege & immunity clause that applies under the terms of reference of the Commission.
