In
September we came a step nearer to achieving justice for the victims of the
1989 Hillsborough Disaster. This followed the report of the Hillsborough Independent
Panel chaired by the Bishop of Liverpool –
This report
was always going to be the start of a long process which will eventually lead
us to the truth about why 96 football fans died on 15th April 1989.
One of the biggest
question marks from the original investigations related to the coroner’s
inquest which found that none of the victims had survived after 3.15 pm. This
finding had a huge influence on all that followed. It was a finding that was
always disputed by the families and by many independent observers. It was a
finding that was finally discredited by publication of the report.
I can still
remember my jaw dropping as I heard the panel’s medical adviser say that 58
fans could well have survived after 3.15. This undermined the inquest findings
and all other decisions that flowed from it.
Today in London the High Court,
following an application by the Attorney General, has quashed the original
inquests. Fresh hearings will now follow. The Lord Chief Justice specifically
referred to - "deliberate misinformation surrounding the
disaster".
This has been one of the worst and most damaging cover ups
that I can recall; damaging to the emergency services, damaging to our justice
system and damaging to the families who have had to fight for over 23 years for
the truth. Those families have often been criticized in the media and have
fought against all the odds. The judge paid a particular tribute to their fight
saying he wished to record - "our admiration and respect for their determined search for the truth about the disaster and why
and how it had occurred, which - despite disappointments and setbacks - has
continued for nearly quarter of a century."
It is
encouraging that the Home Secretary has also announced a new inquiry into the
disaster and has talked openly about securing ‘justice for the 96 football
fans.’
The truth
has been a long time coming. And there is still much to do. But hopefully we
have now moved a significant step nearer.
Informative blog!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing valuable information. Keep update.
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