A WIDOWER whose wife died after receiving contaminated blood says he supports calls for prosecutions as an ongoing inquiry continues to hear damning testimony.

Described as the worst treatment disaster in NHS history, victims and relatives affected by the contaminated blood scandal are calling for criminal charges as the public inquiry into the tragedy nears its conclusion.

Mother of two and grandmother of six Barbara Marsella of Ferndown died on June 28, 2022, aged 68 from cancer directly attributable to a blood transfusion she received in 1984.

Her husband Richard Marsella is one of thousands of people to have received £100,000 in compensation from government – which it says shows its “moral responsibility” to help victims.

Bournemouth Echo: Richard Marsella of Ferndown who lost his wife Barbara to cancer attributed to receiving contaminated bloodRichard Marsella of Ferndown who lost his wife Barbara to cancer attributed to receiving contaminated blood

“It’s still not about payment, it never has been. It’s about why, why did this happen,” Richard told the Echo.

“I will never touch the money as, to me, it’s blood money. It’s safely put away for my kids and their kids to benefit from in the future, I don’t want anything to do with it.”

Mr Marsella also feels much of the general public still do not have a strong awareness and knowledge of the scandal and subsequent inquiry. He said: “I don’t understand why it’s not more out there. So many people I speak to haven’t heard of the scandal.

“The number of people walking around with contaminated blood right now and don’t realise must be huge.”

Bournemouth Echo: The Infected Blood Inquiry memorial at Fleetbank House in LondonThe Infected Blood Inquiry memorial at Fleetbank House in London (Image: Infected Blood Inquiry/PA)

The inquiry has heard evidence that some doctors and members of government knew about blood contaminated with HIV and Hepatitis C long before action was taken. No one has ever faced prosecution in connection with the scandal.

Victims have called on the Public Prosecution Service to examine the findings of the inquiry, calls praised by Mr Marsella, who added: “Someone responsible must be prosecuted because people knew about this and didn’t say anything.

“You’re never going to get the whole truth out there, but I just hope this acts as a wake-up call.”

An estimated 2,400 people have died after being infected with HIV and Hepatitis C through contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s.