Vol. 544 No. 5
157 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a person (details supplied) who imbibed blood from a HIV sufferer has been medically attended; and if the circumstances surrounding the case have been investigated by the prison authorities. [29330/01]
On 1 November 2001, the person referred to claimed that he had come into contact with blood on a door handle within the confines of Mountjoy Prison. He was brought to the accident and emergency department of the Mater Hospital where, as a precautionary measure, he was treated as per the protocol for persons who may have been exposed to contact with contaminated blood. He was prescribed medication to counter contact with the HIV or hepatitis virus and was referred for a future medical appointment on the 22 November 2001. An investigation of the circumstances of the incident was unable to establish who was responsible or whether it was accidental or deliberate.
