No case to answer over vaccine trials, religious orders claim

The Vaccine Trials Inquiry: Five religious institutions at the centre of the 1960-61 four-in-one vaccine controversy believe no evidence has emerged which impugns them in any way.

The five institutions all sought legal representation at a preliminary sitting of the Vaccine Trials Inquiry yesterday.

It also emerged that just one child believed to have been subjected to the vaccine trials has contacted the inquiry.

On the basis of documents furnished to them by the inquiry, all five institutions believe they have no case to answer. They said while they were requesting legal representation, they were putting a stay on that request because they believe they will only need full representation if new evidence comes to light.

In its opening statement in January 2002, the inquiry team explained that some of the children who participated in the vaccine trials were resident in children's homes or orphanages in the 1960s and 1970s and that questions had been raised about the ethical propriety of the trials.

Yesterday's hearing was part of the proceedings of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Investigation Committee. Under its Vaccine Trials Inquiry module, the commission is investigating three vaccine trials which took place between 1960 and 1973.

Ms Justice Mary Laffoy, who is leading the child abuse commission, told yesterday's hearing that if the need arises, witnesses will be subpoenaed "whether they are legally represented or not".

A total of 17 bodies and individuals sought representation yesterday. Among these was the Minister for Health, who sought representation on his own behalf, on behalf of the Department and on behalf of its chief medical officer, Dr Jim Kiely. It was a report into the vaccine trials by Dr Kiely which prompted the inquiry.

The five institutions which sought representation were the Sisters of Mercy, Moat; Good Shepherd Sisters, Dunboyne; Sisters of the Sacred Heart, Cork; Daughters of Charity of the St Vincent de Paul; and the Sisters of St Claire, Stamullen.

UCD sought representation on the basis that two of its staff at the time were involved in the trials. One of those staff members, Prof Irene Hillary, sought her own representation.

Among the others who sought representation were McGrath Solicitors of Cork, who believe they have contacted five people who may have been resident in the Mountcarmel Industrial School in Moat during the trials; the Glaxo Wellcome Foundation; five health boards; and Michael Hanahoe Solicitors.

One former resident at one of the institutions who took part in the trials also sought representation but cannot be named for legal reasons.

Representation was granted to all who sought it.