Liverpool – the only city to eclipse The S*n
The Hillsborough disaster was a human crush that caused the deaths of 96 people and injured 766 others, at a football match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on 15th April 1989. Ever since, the families of the 96 have been seeking justice from the South Yorkshire Police after accusations of unlawful killings by gross negligence manslaughter. Following a tireless campaign led by bereaved families and survivors, in 2012 the High Court quashed the original accidental death verdicts and ordered new inquests.
The jury feel that there were major omissions in the 1989 operational order, including specific instructions for managing the crowd outside the turnstiles, specific instructions as to how the pens were to be filled and monitored, specific instructions as to who would be responsible for the monitoring of the pens. They were asked fourteen questions in total and most of their answers were met with large roars of approval as they agreed the fault was not with the people, but with the police. It was decided that the 96 were unlawfully killed.
After all those years, they never gave up. They picked on the wrong city and picked on the wrong Mum’s. With the support and spirit of the city propelling them, in a David v Goliath scenario, the underdog has won. We always knew the truth but now it’s in paper and now we have justice. Liverpool was once described as a shifting outpost of defiance and determination. We never forgot, we never gave up and we didn’t rest until justice prevailed. We have the utmost admiration those who gave their lives to seek justice for those who lost their own. Our thoughts and feelings go out to all the families connected with the 96.
Photo by Beautiful Liverpool
Red or blue, white or black, man or woman – there’s never been a time to be prouder of being a scouser.