A highly unusual application was made to the Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry today by Mr Stein, barrister to a number of infected and affected individuals. The application sought to ask for Lord Clarke’s comment on campaigners’ belief that he has shown arrogance, pomposity and contempt towards the victims of the biggest health treatment scandal this country has ever faced in his evidence to the Inquiry.

Des Collins, solicitor to 1500 infected and affected clients said:

“The application, though highly unusual in nature, is unlikely to have come as any great surprise to those who have spent the last two and a half days watching Lord Clarke give evidence. However the issue for the Inquiry is not so much Lord Clarke’s demeanour but the extent to which his evidence assists the inquiry in getting to the truth of matters some 40 years on. Perhaps however, were a contemptuous attitude to have been all pervasive throughout the Department of Health for all these years, it might explain why it has taken this long to get an Inquiry.”

ENDS

Collins Solicitors Media Enquiries

Des Collins alongside some of Collins Solicitors’ clients (infected or affected) may be available on request for interview. Please contact:

Bell Yard Communications 020 7936 2021 BellYard@bell-yard.com

Melanie Riley 07775 591244 melanie@bell-yard.com

Notes for editors

The Infected Blood Inquiry, chaired by Sir Brian Langstaff, is the UK’s largest ever statutory inquiry, established to investigate how men women and children were given infected blood and blood products by the NHS from the 1970s. Hearings can be attended in person or followed live on the Infected Blood Inquiry website/YouTube channel.