HIV victim's widow welcomes inquiry into contaminated blood

A Newcastle widow and campaigner who has fought for justice over the contaminated blood scandal has welcomed a new inquirybut also called for a full police investigation.

Carol Grayson, 57, has spent more than a decade uncovering evidence related to the scandal - even submitting thousands of documents to the Government and official bodies which she says were largely ignored.

Mrs Grayson, from Jesmond, lost her haemophiliac husband Peter Longstaff in 2005 after he contracted HIV and hepatitis C from contaminated blood.

She wrote an MA thesis at Sunderland University on the global blood trade,which won an award, and which traced infected donors to Arkansas prisons.

Reacting to the Prime Minister's announcement of an inquiry, she said: "I'm pleased that an inquiry has been announced and I'm grateful to politicians that have stuck with us for so long:

Mrs Grayson said some of the documents now being claimed as new evidence have actually been around for more than a decade.

She said her husband would have been pleased with the announcement of an inquiry but would have urged caution.

"Peter would say that he knew that I would not give up," she said.

"He would be pleased that I have stuck to my promise to fight for justice. But he'd also think I was exhausted by it and he'd be worried about me.

"He would have welcomed the inquiry - he was an optimist. He said years ago it was going to take a very long time to get there.

"But he'd also say treat the inquiry with caution. It really depends on theremit of the inquiry.

"I don't believe it will apportion blame. Alongside this inquiry, there needsto be a complete police investigation.

"I also want the inquest into my husband's death to be re-opened. It was leftas an open verdict."

Mr Longstaff's brother Stephen, also a haemophiliac, died of Aids caused byinfected plasma.

More on this story: Inquiry into contaminated blood scandal announced