'Infected blood sufferers waited 40 years to be heard'

Simon Hamilton gave an emotional account. Credit: UTV

A haemophiliac who contracted hepatitis C after receiving contaminated blood says his “community of sufferers” have waited 40 years to be heard.

Simon Hamilton is one of thousands of people who received infected blood in the 1970s and 80s.

At the public inquiry on contaminated blood in Belfast on Wednesday, he gave an emotional account of the impact it has had on his life.

“When you’re faced with issues that relate to your own mortality, you think about life and death differently,” Mr Hamilton said.

“I sometimes reflect on those issues, not only in terms of how I might feel, but also in terms of how those impacts would be on my family.

“And there I share the pain, and feel the importance of speaking for those that aren’t here - and there are many.”