Daughter of blood scandal victim 'never thought apology would come'

The daughter of a man who died in the infected blood scandal thought the government's apology to those affected "would never happen".

The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, apologised following a report on the scandal, describing it as a "day of shame for the British state".

Katie Walford from Derbyshire lost her father, David Hatton, in 1998 after he was given infected blood products.

Ms Walford said the apology "gave me permission to let go".

Mr Hatton contracted HIV and Hepatitis C after being given a protein made from blood plasma known as Factor VIII.

Ms Walford, who lost her father when she was just 10, hoped the report would lead to "a full detailed, and meaningful apology from the government".

"I had the strangest of sensations when I watched Rishi Sunak admitting accountability", Ms Walford told BBC Radio Derby.

"I had this release of letting go, and it kind of gave me permission to finally feel it all.

"We've known the truth for decades, but to have it finally said by the chair of the inquiry and then again by Rishi Sunak, I never thought it would happen in all honesty.

"From that moment he apologised, there was a little 10-year-old girl inside me that looked up at him and said thank you.

"If we had that from the beginning, if we had that accountability where people swallowed their pride, if they remembered we are just human, none of this would have had to happen."

Mr Sunak said the government would pay "whatever it costs" following a report on the scandal, which saw 30,000 people infected.

Ministers have reportedly earmarked around £10bn for a compensation package, but Ms Walford said she has "always had a complicated relationship" over a payment being given to her family.

"No amount of compensation, or recognition will truly heal that wound, and it won't bring my dad back", said Ms Walford.

"I'm blessed to have my own daughter to look forward to the future, but some people don't have that blessing to look forward to after what the scandal has done to them.

"The thought of being able to secure a future for my daughter is what my dad would have wanted."

Despite possible compensation and an apology from the prime minister, Ms Walford said holding individuals accountable is the "next big step" of the inquiry.

"I do believe there should be lawful consequences for the people who were involved 30 years ago, even if they are very old now", said Ms Walford, of Darley Abbey.

"We need more protection, but this fight is not over. The next three months of the inquiry are the most important; we need to hold people to account for what they have done."

Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.