Philip Dolan, Chairman of the Scottish Haemophilia Groups Forum was nominated for the Public Campaign of the Year for his tireless ten-year battle to win a public inquiry into the thousands of Scots who have died, or had their lives blighted, by contaminated blood products and transfusions from the NHS.
And Rosemary and Joseph Doyle who lost their daughter Annette in the Stockline factory blast were nominated on behalf of the Stockline Support Group also for the Public Campaign of the Year.
Solicitor Advocate Frank Maguire, Senior Partner with Thompsons Solicitors said: "This is the second year in a row that two major campaigns we have strongly supported, have been recognised in these major awards.
"Last year they honoured Clydeside Action on Asbestos for their tireless efforts on behalf of victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos related conditions, and the campaign for a Scottish law of Corporate Killing.
"This year's Awards recognised the huge contribution of Philip Dolan has made on behalf of Hepatitis C victims, and the Stockline Support Group in the fight for justice for the victims they represent.
"We at Thompsons are proud to have played our part in supporting their effort and endorse the view of the Awards Judges that both campaigns deserve public recognition."
The campaign aims and objectives were:
Philip Dolan, Chairperson of the Scottish Haemophilia Groups Forum has been campaigning for such an inquiry for at least 10 years, assisted latterly by Frank Maguire of Thompsons whom they instructed 4 years ago.
Successive Health Minister refused to act.
Last year Mr Dolan and Mr Maguire gave shocking and disturbing evidence to the Scottish Parliament's Health Committee which led to the committee calling on the then Health Minister Andy Kerr to hold an inquiry.
Mr Kerr asked the committee to withdraw their call but they refused to do so.Thompsons also launched a Court of Session action under the European Convention of Human rights to force an inquiry for 3 deaths on behalf of families where their relative died from Hepatitis C which was supported financially by many concerned.
The judgment is due out any day. At a recent meeting with Mr Dolan and Mr Maguire, Nicola Sturgeon, the Cabinet Secretary for Health, finally committed the Scottish Government to hold a full public inquiry.
She has committed to meet again with Mr Dolan and Mr Maguire to discuss the public inquiry remit when the Archer Inquiry in England and Wales reports back.
The campaign for a public inquiry into the Stockline Plastic Factory explosion.
After the tragedy the STUC undertook to support the victims and their families in any way they required.
The Stockline Support Group was formed with Ian Tasker, STUC, acting as its chair.
The Group decided that the most important thing which required to come out of the tragedy was the whole truth in order that lessons may be learned to improve the health and safety culture across the whole of the UK.
Through consultation with solicitor advocate Patrick McGuire of Thompsons, legal adviser to the group and the STUC, it was agreed that this could only be achieved with a full public enquiry.
The group, Mr McGuire and the local MP and MSP, Anne McKechin and Patricia Ferguson, began a campaign that lasted over two and half years with questions in both Parliaments, meetings with government officials and law officers and a high profile media campaign including a public petition presented to the Petitions Committee of the Scottish Parliament.
A joint Westminster and Holyrood public enquiry was announced on 1/10/07. This is a remarkable achievement given that there has still been no public inquiry into the deaths of the Findlay family in the Larkhall/Transco blast 8 years ago.
It is also the first joint Westminster and Holyrood inquiry and therefore can be seen as breaking new constitutional ground.
