The city of Liverpool will today remember the 96 football fans who died at Hillsborough stadium, 30 years to the day since the disaster. [3] The match was abandoned and restaged at Old Trafford in Manchester on 7 May 1989; Liverpool won and went on to win that season's FA Cup. A total of 42 ambulances arrived at the stadium. "[114] However, the determination by Stuart-Smith was heavily criticised by the Justice Minister, Lord Falconer, who stated "I am absolutely sure that Sir Murray Stuart-Smith came completely to the wrong conclusion". Let's be honest about thispeople were against us. But it didn't cause the disaster any more than the sunny day that encouraged people to linger outside the stadium as kick off approached. Although there was enough evidence to charge the farrier with perverting the course of justice, it was felt not to be in the public interest to charge him. Anne Williams, who died in 2013, rejected the coroner's decision that the Hillsborough victims, including her son, had died before 3:15pm, citing witness statements that described him showing signs of life at 4:00pm. "[155] The Labour Party described the handling of the Hillsborough disaster as the "greatest miscarriage of justice of our times", with Labour MPs Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram calling for accountability and the prosecution of those responsible. This confusion migrated to the first responders waiting in ambulances at the CRP, a location which quickly deteriorated into an ambulance parking lot. Transcripts of the proceedings and evidence that was produced during the hearings were published at the Hillsborough Inquests official website. Duckenfield admitted that he had lied in certain statements regarding the causes of the disaster. How the Hillsborough disaster unfolded. Nobody really had any comment on itthey just took one look and went away shaking their heads in wonder at the enormity of it. [294] Johnson apologised at the time of the article, travelling to Liverpool to do so,[295] and again following the publication of the report of the Hillsborough Independent Panel in 2012; Johnson's apology was rejected by Margaret Aspinall, chairperson of the Hillsborough Families Support Group, whose son James, 18, died in the disaster:[296]. Representatives of the 96 victims of the disaster stated that they would be asking for an independent review of the decision under the Right to Review Scheme. In 1997 Lord Justice Stuart-Smith concluded that there was no justification for a new inquiry. [316], In March 2018, British clothing retailer Topman marketed a T-shirt which was interpreted by members of the public, including relatives of Hillsborough victims, as mocking the disaster. I bent down to kiss and talk to [my son] and as we stood up there was a policeman who came from behind me . Gerrard has said the disaster inspired him to lead the team he supported as a boy and become a top professional football player. I had to scream at the police officer to allow us privacy . [268], On 12 September 2012, after the publication of the report exonerating the Liverpool fans, MacKenzie issued the following statement:[269]. Former Sheffield Wednesday F.C. On Wednesday 19 April 1989, four days after the disaster, the second leg of the European Cup semi-final tie between A.C. Milan and Real Madrid was played. [263] Chris Horrie estimated in 2014 that the tabloid's owners had lost 15million per month since the disaster, in 1989 prices. One supporter wrote to the Football Association and Minister for Sport: "The whole area was packed solid to the point where it was impossible to move and where I, and others around me, felt considerable concern for personal safety. [309][310] Despite this he was replaced as presenter of Fox Football Fone-in. Fans outside could hear cheering as the teams came on the pitch ten minutes before the match started, and as the match kicked off, but could not gain entrance. AA17193/2431", "Times front page omitting Hillsborough changed after staff revolt", "We've been criticised today for not having Hillsborough on our first edition front page. [46]:149, The adverse comments of two doctors regarding the emergency response appeared in the media. His cousin, Steven Gerrard, then aged 8, went on to become Liverpool F.C. The Liverpool Legends, comprising ex-Liverpool footballers beat the All Stars, captained by actor Ricky Tomlinson, 31. [46]:145 Any individuals within the stadium in need of medical attention were to be delivered expeditiously by police and paramedics to the CRP. "[281], Professor Phil Scraton described Pearce's comments as amongst the "most bigoted and factually inaccurate" published in the wake of the disaster. [46]:143 Some crews were hesitant to leave their vehicles, unsure of whether patients were coming to them, or vice versa. The cast included Christopher Eccleston, Annabelle Apsion, Ricky Tomlinson and Mark Womack. [59], During the final match of the 198889 English Football League season, contested on 26 May 1989 between Liverpool and second-place Arsenal, the Arsenal players presented flowers to fans in different parts of Anfield in memory of those who had died in the Hillsborough disaster. Solicitor Peter Metcalf, former Chief Superintendent Donald Denton, and former Detective Chief Inspector Alan Foster were all charged with perverting the course of justice,[189][190] for having altered 68 police officers' statements in order to "mask the failings" of the police force. the total attitude was, youve identified number 33 so go! In March 1997just before the eighth anniversary of the disasterit was reported he had emerged from the condition and was able to communicate using a touch-sensitive pad, and he had been showing signs of awareness of his surroundings for up to three years before. It affirmed the position of the courts once again towards claims of psychiatric injuries of secondary victims. Stephen Whittle is considered by some to be another victim of Hillsborough, as due to work commitments, he had sold his ticket to a friend (whom he and his family chose not to identify), who then died in the disaster; the resulting feeling of survivor guilt is believed to be the main reason he took his own life in February 2011.[79]. [191] The ruling also noted that the original statements had neither been destroyed, nor had they been ordered to be destroyed. It has since fuelled persistent and unsustainable assertions about drunken fan behaviour". [64], In May 1989, a charity version of the Gerry and the Pacemakers song "Ferry Cross the Mersey" was released in aid of those affected. [94] Attention was focused on the decision to open the secondary gates; moreover, the kick-off should have been delayed, as had been done at other venues and matches. [290] Although the original apology was not printed in the magazine as it was not considered "serious enough",[291] its Australian editor, Geoff Campbell, released a statement: "We deeply regret the photograph captions published in the November issue of the Australian edition of FHM, accompanying an article about the Hillsborough disaster of 1989. [106] Purpose-built stadiums for Premier League and most Football League teams since the report are all-seater. The Football Spectators Act does not cover Scotland, but the Scottish Premier League chose to make all-seater stadiums a requirement of league membership. [46]:142 Ofcom also received 177 complaints. [180], The IPCC is[needs update] also investigating the actions of West Midlands Police, who in 1989 had been tasked with investigating South Yorkshire Police's conduct for both the original inquests and also the Taylor independent inquiry. A seven-foot-high circular bronze memorial was unveiled in the Old Haymarket district of Liverpool in April 2013. Between 2:30pm and 2:40pm, there was a build-up of supporters outside the turnstiles facing Leppings Lane, eager to enter the stadium before the game began. . [85], In February 2000, a private prosecution was brought against Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield and another officer, Bernard Murray. I do not consider that there is any material which should be put before the Director of Public Prosecutions or the Police Complaints Authority which might cause them to reconsider the decisions they have already taken. [195], At a trial preparation hearing at Preston Crown Court on 10September 2018, Duckenfield pleaded not guilty to all 95 charges against him. "[272] Trevor Kavanagh, the political editor at the time of the Hillsborough disaster, said that he was "not sorry at all" about the reporting and supported his former boss Kelvin MacKenzie, stating that "we were clearly misled about the events and the authorities, including the police, actively concealed the truth". [43], South Yorkshire Police Superintendent Greenwood (the ground commander) realised the situation, and ran on the field to gain referee Ray Lewis's attention. Two sisters, three pairs of brothers, and a father and son were among those who died,[69] as were two men about to become fathers for the first time: 25-year-old Steven Brown of Wrexham[76] and 30-year-old Peter Thompson of Widnes. Club Secretary Graham Mackrell faced a charge of breaching the Safety at Sports Ground Act 1975. In July 2021, a coroner ruled that Andrew Devine, who died 32 years after suffering severe and irreversible brain damage on the day, was the 97th victim. With 96 deaths and 766 injuries, it remains the worst such case in British sporting history.. [90], Ashton and Phillips were not the only doctors present at the disaster not to be called to give evidence to the Popper inquests. He dismissed the claim by senior police officers that they had no reason to anticipate problems, since congestion had occurred at both the 1987 and 1988 semi-finals. [77] Jon-Paul Gilhooley, aged 10, was the youngest person to die. Liverpool won the match by four goals to nil.[237]. [43] Football players from both teams were ushered to their respective dressing rooms, and told that there would be a 30-minute postponement. Lord Justice Taylor, Final Report (Cm 962), Hillsborough: The Report of the Hillsborough Independent Panel, Liverpool Football Club Hillsborough Memorial. "[314][315] There have since been calls to have Ingham stripped of his knighthood. [191], On 9 August 2017, all except Duckenfield appeared at Warrington Magistrates Court. [148] The jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing in respect of all 96 victims (by majority verdict of 72). [293], In November 2007, the BBC soap opera EastEnders caused controversy when the character Minty Peterson (played by Cliff Parisi) made a reference to the disaster. With 97 deaths and 766 injuries, it has the highest death toll in British sporting history. This article was presumably published before there were any reports that people had been killed. The entrance had a limited number of turnstiles, of which just seven . It's too little, too late. The disaster has been acknowledged on 15April every year by the community in Liverpool and football in general. Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation, 'The patronising disposition of unaccountable power' report. Another psychiatric injury claim was brought to the House of Lords, White v Chief Constable of the South Yorkshire Police [1999] 2 A.C. 455. Preview of my documentary about the effects since the hillsborough disaster regarding safety at football matches.Full Documentary at;http://video.google.co.u. As a result of the disaster, Liverpool's scheduled match against Arsenal was delayed from 23April until the end of the season, and the game eventually decided the league title. As the prime minister has made clear, these allegations were wholly untrue and were part of a concerted plot by police officers to discredit the supporters thereby shifting the blame for the tragedy from themselves. [2] Ninety-four people died on the day; another person died in hospital days later, and another victim died in 1993. Of those statements, 116 were amended to remove or change negative comments about South Yorkshire Police. [314][315] On the day of the inquest verdict, Ingham refused to apologise or respond to the previous comments he made, telling a reporter, "I have nothing to say. A provisional trial date was set for 14January 2019,[196] on which date the trial started at Preston Crown Court before Mr Justice Openshaw. The Queen and Peter Metcalf, Donald Denton, Alan Foster. [63] Much of the money went to victims and relatives of those involved in the disaster and provided funds for a college course to improve the hospital phase of emergency care. The tragedy was largely attributed to mistakes made by the police. Copy link. They buried their dead, comforted the bereaved and succoured the injured. Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool's manager at the time of the disaster, read a passage from the Bible, "Lamentations of Jeremiah". [233] Halfway through the minute's silence, the A.C. Milan fans sang Liverpool's "You'll Never Walk Alone" as a sign of respect. 26 April 2016. Although the editor Boris Johnson did not write this piece,[293] journalist Simon Heffer said he had written the first draft of the article at Johnson's request. [98], There was no means for calculating when individual enclosures had reached capacity. Hundreds of people were pressed against one another and the fencing by the weight of the crowd behind them. [289] As a result, Emap Australia, who owned FHM at the time, pledged to make a donation to the families of the victims. Williams was portrayed by Maxine Peake, whose performance was described in The Guardian as "almost unwatchably intense".[327]. Their claims were dismissed and the Alcock decision was upheld. Documents disclosed confirm that repeated attempts were made to find supporting evidence for alcohol being a factor, and that available evidence was significantly misinterpreted. The ceremony was held on the Spion Kop Battlefield which gave its name to the Kop Stand at Anfield. Peter McKay in the Evening Standard wrote that the "catastrophe was caused first and foremost by violent enthusiasm for soccer and in this case the tribal passions of Liverpool supporters [who] literally killed themselves and others to be at the game"[242][243] and published a front-page headline "Police attack 'vile' fans" on 18 April 1989, in which police sources blamed the behaviour of a section of Liverpool fans for the disaster. 's captain. [155], Echoing his 2012 expression of regret[158] former Home Secretary Jack Straw apologised to the families for the failures of his 1997 review of the disaster. [322], The American sports network ESPN produced the documentary Hillsborough as part of its 30 for 30 series of sports films (under a new "Soccer Stories" subdivision). On 12 September 2012, it published its report and simultaneously launched a website containing 450,000 pages of material[116] collated from 85 organisations and individuals[117] over two years. In total, ninety-seven people died as a result of injuries incurred during the disaster. A Leeds fan described disorganisation at the turnstiles and no steward or police direction inside the stadium, resulting in the crowd in one enclosure becoming so compressed he was at times unable to raise and clap his hands. [160][161], During the inquests, Maxwell Groomea police constable at the time of the disastermade allegations of a high-level "conspiracy" by Freemasons to shift blame for the disaster onto Superintendent Roger Marshall, also that junior officers were pressured into changing their statements after the disaster, and told not to write their accounts in their official police pocketbooks. The report said "When spectators first appeared on the track, the immediate assumption in the control room was that a pitch invasion was threatened. On 26July, the judge refused the prosecution's application for a retrial of Duckenfield. The extreme reaction to Mr Bigley's murder is fed by the fact that he was a Liverpudlian. FA Cup semi-final Liverpool v Nottingham Forest. [60][61], A disaster appeal fund was set up with donations of 500,000 from the UK Government, 100,000 from Liverpool F.C. [1][4] The inquests also found that the design of the stadium contributed to the crush, and that supporters were not to blame for the dangerous conditions. Supporters laid down flowers and blue and white scarves to show respect for the dead and unity with fellow Merseysiders. [288] However, insiders dismissed any suggestion that a visit by News UK owner Rupert Murdoch to the Times newsroom on the day of the verdict had anything to do with the editorial decision. I too was totally misled. This left planning for the semi-final match to Duckenfield, who had never commanded a sell-out football match before, and who had "very little, if any" training or personal experience in how to do so. The equipment was no use on the ambulance vehicle when critical early resuscitation was taking place some distance away on the pitch, behind the Leppings Lane end and in the gymnasium. The Liverpool manager, Rafael Bentez, set 96 balloons free. The transfer was to be done with immediate effect on 27 March 1989. . Other messages came from Pope John Paul II, US President George H. W. Bush, and the chief executive of Juventus (fans of Liverpool and Juventus had been involved in the Heysel Stadium disaster) amongst many others. Share. [321], On the 20th anniversary of the disaster, BBC Radio 4 produced an episode of their series The Reunion on the subject of Hillsborough. A further 20 were from counties adjacent to Merseyside. It emphasised the general situation at Hillsborough was satisfactory compared with most grounds. Another survivor had spent eight years in psychiatric care. 's The Den being the first new stadium to be built that fulfilled the recommendations. [53] Standing on terraces and the use of perimeter fencing around the pitch, the use of CCTV, the timing of football matches and policing of sporting events were factors for a subsequent inquiry to consider. [166][167][168], Following the inquests verdicts, South Yorkshire police announced it would refer the actions of its officers to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). [236], On 30 April 1989, a friendly match organised by Celtic F.C. [272] On the night of the verdict coverage, more than 124,000 tweets used the term The Sun. Sue MacGregor brought together a group of people who were involved in the disaster to talk about the events of that day at a time when they were still in the midst of their fight for justice. He concluded that this formed an exacerbating factor but that police, seeking to rationalise their loss of control, overestimated the element of drunkenness in the crowd. [216] Following on from (and out of respect for) the Hillsborough families' decision to conclude official memorials at Anfield with a final service in 2016,[217] it was decided not to hold any further memorials at Spion Kop. [52], Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Home Secretary Douglas Hurd visited Hillsborough the day after the disaster and met survivors. His column in The Sunday Times on 23 April 1989, included the text:[280]. On 11 April 2009, Liverpool fans sang "You'll Never Walk Alone" as a tribute to the upcoming anniversary of the disaster before the home game against Blackburn Rovers (which ended in Liverpool winning 40) and was followed by former Liverpool player, Stephen Warnock presenting a memorial wreath to the Kop showing the figure 96 in red flowers. In addition to the "unlawful killing" verdict, the jury concluded that "errors or omissions" by police commanding officers, Sheffield Wednesday, the ambulance service and the design and certification of the stadium had all "caused or contributed" to the deaths, but that the behaviour of football supporters had not. [37], The report dismissed the theory, put forward by South Yorkshire Police, that fans attempting to gain entry without tickets or with forged tickets were contributing factors.
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