"The Government has been put on notice," said one North East victim of the contaminated blood scandal after a dramatic day of evidence which saw former Health Secretary Andy Burnham call for charges of corporate manslaughter to be considered by the CPS.
Northumberland -based Sean Cavens - who was infected with hepatitis C as a baby and is one of the youngest people to have been caught up in the scandal which saw thousands given blood products tainted with lethal viruses - told ChronicleLive how Mr Burnham's evidence was welcome.
Ahead of Mr Burnham's testimony, Sir Brian Langstaff, the former High Court judge who is leading the inquiry, gave the Government until July 25 to "make submissions" as to whether he ought to recommend interim compensation be paid to thousands. This came after two days of evidence from Sir Robert Francis, who had been tasked with drawing up a framework for compensation.
