Dont ever get hepatitis in Europe!

liver411

Victim of hepatitis C facing eviction



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By Tom Shiel, in Castlebar

A 53-year-old Co Mayo victim of the hepatitis C scandal faces eviction from his local authority home in the New Year because of a ?,400 debt which he cannot discharge until he receives long-delayed State compensation.



A district court order for possession of Mr Michael Lyons's home at Station Rise, Ballyhaunis has been granted to Mayo County Council because of a mounting rent bill which he is unable to meet on a ?5.50 weekly disability payment.



The former carpenter, who is unable to work because of his medical condition, has been waiting almost six years for the hepatitis C tribunal to adjudicate on his claim and compensate him.



Mr Lyons was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 1992 some years after separate heart operations at the Mater Hospital in Dublin. He now has a chronic liver problem and is unable to work because of the debilitating nature of his illness.



This week he was notified by letter about the court order for possession of his home. "My life has been blighted by something totally out of my control but the council is failing to show any sensitivity towards my situation," he said.



"I have no intention of trying to get out of paying the money," Mr Lyons said. "All I want is time in order to receive compensation." For the past seven years, he has depended on survival on a weekly disability payment - currently ?5.50 per week - which he says is totally inadequate.



The council's housing department is aware of Mr Lyons's condition having been furnished with a report from St James's Hospital in 1998.



The slow pace of the compensation process upsets Mr Lyons but he stresses that he isn't the only hepatitis C victim in dire financial circumstances. "There are others living in acute hardship right around the country this Christmas," he said.



The average award made by the compensation tribunal so far has been around ?14,000. Mr Lyons, who is legally represented, is entitled to compensation for damage to his health and loss of earnings.



The council has rejected Mr Lyons's claims that it has been insensitive.



A spokesman pointed out that it had obtained a court order for possession of his home on November 21st but a stay had been put on the execution of the order. The matter will come before the district court again on March 21st.