Friday, June 20, 2008

By SIMON CARSWELL, Finance Correspondent

THE STATE could face a potential liability of €500 million relating to legal claims from people infected by the MRSA hospital superbug, the State Claims Agency has said.

The agency estimated that if there were “an adverse court finding” in a claim for damages in an MRSA case, the State could face up to 1,500 claims, where the liabilities, including legal costs, could reach €500 million.

Ciarán Breen, director of the agency, told the Dáil Committee of Public Accounts that it was handling “a relatively small number” of MRSA legal cases, but that it was aware of one legal firm that was “building up” a class action-type lawsuit on MRSA.

Mr Breen said the claims agency was handling about 100 claims relating to the hospital bug… (read more)