A HAEMOPHILIAC who claims he was infected with a lethal virus from a blood transfusion has won the right to sue the Government.

The 42-year-old father, from Newcastle, is the first person in the country to be granted legal aid for such a fight.

He is calling for a public inquiry after claiming he caught hepatitis C through a blood transfusion.

The man, who does not wish to be named, said: "I have watched my brother and scores of other haemophiliacs die after becoming infected with viruses through NHS treatment."

In 1990, haemophiliacs who contracted HIV through contaminated blood products received compensation from the Government.

It followed The Northern Echo's award-winning Aids: Fight for Justice campaign, which called for financial aid for victims.

But haemophiliacs who were awarded compensation had to sign a document preventing them from making future claims for any other blood-borne viruses they might contract through being given transferred blood.

It is this document that will form the basis of the latest legal fight, which could open the doors for other haemophiliacs to sue.

It is also being claimed that the Government had knowledge about the other viruses and drew up the document to prevent further action.

Newcastle MP Jim Cousins said: "I think there is little doubt that those drawing up the agreement on behalf of the Government had knowledge of these other viruses and were simply safeguarding themselves against the possibility of further action."

The Department of Health said in 1990 that its knowledge of these other viruses affecting haemophiliacs was "developmental".

A spokesman for the department said: "We have great sympathy for the people affected.

"The issue is that many people over the years have suffered as a consequence of medical treatment that was intended to improve their condition.

"The decision to compensate haemophiliacs who contracted HIV was made by the last Government as a special one-off payment and was not intended to set a precedent.