Man who deliberately infected two women with HIV may have passed virus to five more

AN African national convicted of HIV to two former partners may have infected five more women with the virus.

In the first case of its kind in Ireland, an 11-day trial came to a conclusion yesterday when a jury of nine women and three men judged that a 28-year-old man was aware of his HIV diagnosis when he infected two women with the deadly virus.

However, following the conviction, officers now fear that the man may have infected up to five other women in Dublin and other areas of the country over a 10-year period.

The man pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to the two women.

An application for bail was refused due to risk of the man fleeing. The maximum penalty for the offence is life.

He is due to appear again in court on July 26 for sentencing.

According to prosecution counsel Dominic McGinn SC, the expert witnesses said all three parties have the same subtype and mutations of the virus.

He also told the jury that the man lied to the complainants’ doctor about his positive diagnosis and “went through the charade” of being tested again for the virus in 2010.

"He knew full well he was HIV positive. He was advised about having safe sex. He admitted that to gardaí and he was given antiviral medication and he didn't take it," he said.

~ Ryan Price