Margaret Aspinall, chairperson of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, asked for a face to face meeting with Hunt before deciding if she would[needs update] accept the apology. 's captain. [29] Leeds were assigned the Leppings Lane end. The Hillsborough Disaster 1989 - YouTube He added it would be like making jokes about the 2002 Bali bombings, in which eight fewer Australians were killed. [7] Families disputed the findings,[4] and fought to have the case re-opened. [42] People entering were unaware of the problems at the fence; police or stewards usually stood at the entrance to the tunnel and, when the central pens reached capacity, directed fans to the side pens, but on this occasion, for reasons not fully explained, they did not. After the two minutes' silence, bells on civic buildings rang out throughout Merseyside. [4][8] Reporting in 2012, it confirmed Taylor's 1990 criticisms and revealed details about the extent of police efforts to shift blame onto fans, the role of other emergency services and the error of the first coroner's inquests. Is there, perhaps, a lesson there for the Hillsborough campaigners? [192] On 29June 2018, a ruling was made that Duckenfield would be prosecuted on the manslaughter charges. September 2012 Hillsborough disaster report (7.25 megabytes), 1915 British football match-fixing scandal, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hillsborough_disaster&oldid=1141795975, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles in need of updating from January 2022, All Wikipedia articles in need of updating, Articles to be expanded from January 2022, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from December 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2023, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Christine Gifford, expert in the field of access to information. [45], The agreed upon protocol for the South Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service (SYMAS) was that ambulances were to queue at the entrance to the gymnasium, termed the casualty reception point, or CRP. An additional three victims came from Sheffield with two more living in counties adjacent to South Yorkshire. "[114] This was controversial as the subsequent response of the police and emergency services would not be scrutinised. This is an edited extract from 'The Hillsborough Disaster: In Their Own Words . [261] The Hillsborough Justice Campaign organised a less successful national boycott that had some impact on the paper's sales nationally. [91], After the disaster, Lord Justice Taylor was appointed to conduct an inquiry into the events. [32], Meanwhile, Hillsborough was accepted as the FA Cup semi-final venue on 20 March 1989 by the Football Association. Part of this flawed psychological state is that they cannot accept that they might have made any contribution to their misfortunes, but seek rather to blame someone else for it, thereby deepening their sense of shared tribal grievance against the rest of society. The 96 people who died at the Hillsborough football stadium disaster in 1989 were unlawfully killed and a catalogue of failings by police and the ambulance services contributed to their deaths,. Resumed on 19 November 1990,[81] they proved to be controversial. His cousin, Steven Gerrard, then aged 8, went on to become Liverpool F.C. [46]:149 Out of this number, two managed of their own accord to make their way onto the pitchwhile a third ambulance made its way onto the pitch at the direction of DCAO Hopkins, who felt its visibility might allay crowd concerns. [80] Andrew Devine, who was 22 at the time of the disaster, died in 2021 at the age of 55. [154], Prime Minister David Cameron also responded to the April 2016 verdict by saying that it represented a "long overdue" but "landmark moment in the quest for justice", adding "All families and survivors now have official confirmation of what they always knew was the case, that the Liverpool fans were utterly blameless in the disaster that unfolded at Hillsborough. . With 97 deaths and 766 injuries, it has the highest death toll in British sporting history. Several campaigns have attempted to get the government to relax the regulation and allow standing areas to return to Premiership and Championship grounds. With the imminent release of police documents relating to events on 15 April 1989, the Hillsborough Family Support Group launched Project 96, a fundraising initiative on 1 August 2009. [62] Other fundraising activities included a Factory Records benefit concert and several fundraising football matches. In 2014, to mark the 25th anniversary of the disaster, the FA decided that all FA Cup, Premier League, Football League, and Football Conference matches played between 1114 April would kick-off seven minutes later than originally scheduled with a six-minute delay and a one-minute silence tribute.[218]. [52] Within days, donations had passed 1million,[54] swelled by donations from individuals, schools and businesses. 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. By this time, a small gate in the fence had been forced open and some fans escaped via this route, as others continued to climb over the fencing. [309][310] Despite this he was replaced as presenter of Fox Football Fone-in. Why are we treated like animals?' By 2:45pm, 5,531 fans had passed through the turnstiles into the terrace. The prosecution argued that the crush was "foreseeable" hence the defendants were "grossly negligent". [104], Taylor concluded his criticism of South Yorkshire Police by describing senior officers in command as "defensive and evasive witnesses" who refused to accept any responsibility for error: "In all some 65 police officers gave oral evidence at the Inquiry. They both gave evidence at the 2016 Warrington inquests. A memorial stone in the pavement on the south side of Liverpool's Anglican cathedral. It added:. For the second time in half a decade a large body of Liverpool supporters has killed people the shrine in the Anfield goalmouth, the cursing of the police, all the theatricals, come sweetly to a city which is already the world capital of self-pity. ", "Original 'copy' of Hillsborough story filed by White's news agency", "Hillsborough Inquests: 'Regrets' over pickpocketing claims", "Hillsborough: 20 years on, Liverpool has still not forgiven the newspaper it calls 'The Scum', "Hillsborough report: Prime Minister David Cameron's statement in full", "How the Sun's 'truth' about Hillsborough unravelled", "Hillsborough: telling the truth about the scum", "MacKenzie speaks out on Hillsborough comments", "Hillsborough: Former Sun editor apologises to Liverpool", "Liverpool Vs The Sun: How the City Rid Itself of the UK's Biggest Paper", "Liverpool's 23-year boycott of The Sun newspaper", "Sun boycott reduced Euroscepticism on Merseyside, study shows", "Hillsborough: The Sun 'profoundly sorry' over false fan conduct reports", "Newspaper review: Hillsborough 'justice' hailed, but not on Sun's front page", "News International chairman James Murdoch apologises to Liverpool over Sun's coverage of Hillsborough tragedy", "Hillsborough files: Reaction to release of government papers", "Hillsborough: Kelvin MacKenzie offers 'profuse apologies to the people of Liverpool', "Not Even The Sun Could Have Expected This Level of Anger After Hillsborough Inquest", "The Sun Relegates Hillsborough To Page 8, Outrage Ensues", "Sun and Times front pages criticised for ignoring Hillsborough verdict", "S*n and Times slammed for ignoring Hillsborough on front pages", "Hillsborough: Times admits front page 'mistake', "The Hillsborough Verdict Shows People Still Haven't Forgiven The Sun Even After 27 Years", "The S*n hides behind wall of silence after landmark Hillsborough verdicts", "Liverpool FC ban for Sun journalists over Hillsborough", "Everton join Liverpool in banning Sun journalists over coverage", "Hillsborough Inquiry: Press Release No. [38] "There's gaps, you know, in parts of the ground. [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). "[30], Police presence at the previous year's FA Cup semi-final (also between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest and also at Hillsborough Stadium) had been overseen by Chief Superintendent Brian L. The only one called was the Sheffield Wednesday club doctor. . Jones stated that minutes after the disaster, Duckenfield "deceitfully and dishonestly" told senior FA officials that the supporters had forced the gate open. [188], On 28 June 2017, it was announced that six people were to be charged with offences in relation to the disaster. She unsuccessfully appealed to the European Court of Human Rights in 2009. They will have to answer 14 key questions about the disaster . The crushing occurred during a match at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, England, on April 15, 1989. [169] West Yorkshire Police announced it would refer its Chief Constable, Norman Bettison, to the IPCC in mid-September. Hooliganism had affected the sport for some years and was particularly virulent in England. Hillsborough inquests jury rules 96 victims were unlawfully killed [247], The information was provided to the newspaper by Whites News Agency in Sheffield;[248] the newspaper cited claims by police inspector Gordon Sykes, that Liverpool fans had pickpocketed the dead,[249] as well as other claims by unnamed police officers and local Conservative MP Irvine Patnick. [272] On the night of the verdict coverage, more than 124,000 tweets used the term The Sun. [29] Other accounts told of fans having to be pulled to safety from above. Mackrell pleaded not guilty to the charge against him. 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. Ofcom also received 177 complaints. In 1999, Anfield was packed with a crowd of around 10,000 people ten years after the disaster. [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. [24][25] The incident nonetheless prompted Sheffield Wednesday to alter the layout at the Leppings Lane end, dividing the terrace into three separate pens to restrict sideways movement. It's too little, too late. The disaster has been acknowledged on 15April every year by the community in Liverpool and football in general. [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. Share. [271], In February 2017, Liverpool F.C. Hillsborough: anatomy of a disaster Guardian The evidence built into a startling indictment of South Yorkshire police, their chain of command and conduct - a relentlessly detailed evisceration. After a 27-year campaign by victims' families, the behaviour of Liverpool fans was exonerated. Such an unrealistic approach gives cause for anxiety as to whether lessons have been learnt".[105]. The police became a convenient scapegoat, and the Sun newspaper a whipping-boy for daring, albeit in a tasteless fashion, to hint at the wider causes of the incident. Trust v Bland [1993] A.C. 789, a landmark House of Lords decision in English criminal law, that allowed the life-support machine of Tony Bland, a Hillsborough victim in a persistent vegetative state, to be switched off. This prompted 380 complaints and the BBC apologised, saying that the character was simply reminding another character, former football hooligan Jase Dyer, that the actions of hooligans led to the fencing-in of football fans. 'You'll never walk alone.'". This followed a legal challenge in the High Court by his family to have his treatment withdrawn, a landmark challenge which succeeded in November 1992. In its announcement, the IPCC praised the tenacity of the Hillsborough families' campaign for truth and justice. The Taylor Inquiry sat for a total of 31 days (between 15May and 29June 1989)[92] and published two reports: an interim report (1August 1989) which laid out the events of the day and immediate conclusions; and a final report (19January 1990) which outlined general recommendations on football ground safety. In December 2009, Home Secretary Alan Johnson said the Hillsborough Independent Panel's remit would be to oversee "full public disclosure of relevant government and local information within the limited constraints set out in the disclosure protocol" and "consult with the Hillsborough families to ensure that the views of those most affected by the disaster are taken into account". Duckenfield admitted that he had lied in certain statements regarding the causes of the disaster. Perimeter and lateral fencing was removed and many top stadiums were converted to all-seated. The Queen and Peter Metcalf, Donald Denton, Alan Foster. The Liverpool Echo condemned the apology as "cynical and shameless". Time of. [246] These media reports and others were examined during the 2012 Hillsborough Independent Panel report. [170] In early October, Bettison announced his retirement, becoming the first senior figure to step down since publication of the panel's report.[171][172][173]. [46]:145 Any individuals within the stadium in need of medical attention were to be delivered expeditiously by police and paramedics to the CRP. When he presented his report in February 1998, he concluded that there was insufficient evidence for a new inquiry into the disaster. [325] After the inquest verdict, the BBC aired the documentary on 8May 2016, with additional footage from the inquest, as well as its final verdict. [15], Hillsborough Stadium had been constructed in 1899 to house Sheffield Wednesday. Look down there. In response, Trevor Hicks, chairman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, rejected MacKenzie's apology as "too little, too late", calling him "lowlife, clever lowlife, but lowlife". That's why I am so grateful to my city and so proud of my city. [148][306] Following continued criticism of Crompton in the wake of the unlawful killing verdict, South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Billings suspended Crompton from duty on 27April 2016. The memorial service, led by the Bishop of Liverpool began at 14:45 BST and a two-minute silence (observed across Liverpool and in Sheffield and Nottingham, including public transport coming to a stand-still)[224][225] was held at the time of the disaster twenty years earlier, 15:06 BST. Hon. This memorial is inscribed with the words: "Hillsborough Disaster we will remember them", and displays the names of the 96 victims who died. The occasion was the first in which the two teams had met since the 1985 Bradford City stadium fire that had claimed 56 lives at Valley Parade. The request to delay the start of the match by 20 minutes was declined. Hillsborough first aired in the US on 15April 2014, the 25th anniversary of the disaster. The Hillsborough inquest jury must answer a detailed questionnaire before delivering their verdicts. Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United players showed respect by wearing black armbands during their Champions League quarter-final matches on 14 and 15 April 2009. Stand Up Sit Down A Choice to Watch Football. [85], In February 2000, a private prosecution was brought against Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield and another officer, Bernard Murray. I held those views then, I hold them now. A crush occurred at the Leppings-Lane end of the ground during the 1981 semi-final between Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers after hundreds more spectators were permitted to enter the terrace than could safely be accommodated, resulting in 38 injuries, including broken arms, legs and ribs. "[289] The British edition disassociated itself from the controversy, stating: "FHM Australia has its own editorial team and these captions were written and published without consultation with the UK edition, or any other edition of FHM. [46]:149, The adverse comments of two doctors regarding the emergency response appeared in the media. Published. Bibliography of over 150 books, journal articles, TV programmes and websites relating to the Disaster and its aftermath produced by Sheffield City Council's Archives Service. Hillsborough trial: 'Not enough' turnstiles at stadium - BBC News It was April 26, 2016. We said it was the truth - it wasn't for that we're deeply ashamed and profoundly sorry". [284][286] Gary Lineker described the incident as "disgusting as it is unsurprising",[287] and David Walsh, chief sports writer at the Sunday Times, said it was a "shocking misjudgment" to not include this story on the front page. Over 4,000 were still outside, crammed tightly around the turnstiles and in the holding area. [321], On the 20th anniversary of the disaster, BBC Radio 4 produced an episode of their series The Reunion on the subject of Hillsborough.