Battling in vein for justice

THE poisoning of around 4000 UK residents with contaminated blood has been the subject of a decades-long struggle for justice.

Used mostly on haemophiliacs, the blood had been shipped over from the USA.

It had been taken largely from prisoners, who were handed benefits such as cigarettes in return for blood.

Years later, it was discovered some donations included the HIV and hepatitis C virus, which has ruined thousands of lives.

The fight for letters and documents relating to the use of the blood has been fought as stiffly as the struggle for compensation.

Hundreds of Freedom of Information requests have been submitted, but campaigners are still furious at what they regard as "a cover up".

In 2004, the UK Government announced a scheme called the Skipton Fund, which paid one-off cash sums to everyone affected.

In 2010, the Penrose Inquiry in Scotland ordered the release of documents.