96 Fans at Hillsborough Unlawfully Killed

Ninety-six football fans who died as a result of a crush in the Hillsborough disaster were unlawfully killed, the inquests have concluded.

Police failures led to the deaths in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

Jurors answered yes to the question about whether any police error caused or contributed to a dangerous situation at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final.

The behaviour of Liverpool fans did not contribute to the dangerous situation at the turnstiles.

When the conclusion of the unlawful killing was revealed, families were seen hugging each other in the public gallery and some punched the air.

The jury also concluded

Police errors caused a dangerous situation at the turnstiles

Failures by commanding officers caused a crush on the terraces

There were mistakes in the police control box over the order to open the Leppings Lane end exit gates

Defects at the stadium contributed the disaster

There was an error in the safety certification of the Hillsborough stadium

Police delayed declaring a major incident

The emergency response including the ambulance service was also delayed

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Dalglish Gives Hillsborough Evidence

Former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish spoke about the 'mayhem' at Hillsborough as he gave evidence at the disaster inquest.

The team's manager on the day of the tragedy was speaking from the witness box in the final afternoon session at Warrington Coroner's Court before the hearings adjourn for the Christmas break.

"The place was mayhem, nobody knew what's going on, there's stories coming from every angle," Dalglish said.

Dalglish was questioned by Christina Lambert QC on behalf of the coroner, Lord Justice Goldring.

Wearing a red Liverpool tie and a '96' lapel badge, Dalglish told how the news started to filter through that something serious was happening.

"We knew there'd been fatalities. We weren't told what the cause was, but we knew it wasn't people fighting or hooliganism,' he said.

Dalglish spoke about the request to call for calm and told how he used a microphone in the DJ box as the one in the police box didn't work.

He remembered the crowd applauded and added, "so obviously they heard the message. I came out of the room and went back to the dressing room area."

He said the only time he remembers going on to the pitch was to check his son was OK. "Fortunately he was," he said.

John Beggs QC, representing the retired Hillsborough match commanders, read out a passage from Dalglish's autobiography where he discusses Reds fans 'bunking in' to Wembley for the FA Cup final against Everton in 1986.

Dalglish, when Beggs quoted a Home Office report about the same match and described ticketless fans trying to enter the stadium as 'troubling', said: 'I'm just a normal human being. Not judge and jury on how people should behave.'

The court was shown an extract of Mr Dalglish's autobiography about Heysel, in which he wrote: "How on earth could Uefa think they could separate the passionate followers of Liverpool and Juventus with a thin piece of chicken wire? Chicken wire!"

Beggs asked if followers can be passionate without fighting, to which Dalglish replied "yes".

The counsel for Ch Supt David Duckenfield followed up by asking if Dalglish was acknowledging that a group of Liverpool supporters were prone to violence. "No," replied Dalglish. "I'm identifying that chicken wire wasn't substantive enough to separate two groups of fans."

Rajiv Menon, counsel for 10 of the families, asked about press coverage after the disaster.

"It was upsetting for many people," said Dalglish, particularly the Sun front page headline 'The Truth'.

"I know there was outrage," said Dalglish. "I know the fans were very upset. And, in fact, I was asked to attend, if I could go to Walton prison to calm the prisoners down on the Friday because of the stuff that had been written in the newspapers."

Before he was discharged Dalglish was questioned by Peter Weatherby on behalf of 22 of the families. He was asked about his views of delaying the kick-off.

"It wasn't an uncommon occurrence," said Dalglish. "If it was necessary, both teams would be in complete agreement with the police and referee, as I said earlier.

"The third person that would be asked is the team manager, but it's a fait acomplit by the time it gets to us."

Dalglish finished his evidence at 3pm and the coroner adjourned the inquest until the new year.

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Fresh Inquest for Hillsborough

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The High Court has quashed the original inquest verdicts returned on 96 Liverpool football fans who died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

The Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge ordered fresh inquests following an application by the Attorney General.

Trevor Hicks of the Hillsborough Family Support Group said it was "a huge step for the families".

The home secretary has also announced a new police inquiry into the disaster.

Theresa May said the new inquiry would re-examine what happened in April 1989.

New medical evidence was used as a basis for the new inquests application.

Dominic Grieve made his request to the High Court three months after a new report established 41 of those who died might have been saved.

Mr Grieve said the application was being made as a consequence of the Hillsborough Panel's report published on 12 September, which he said was a "remarkable" document.

Anne Williams: "I wanted the record put straight"

He said that Dr Bill Kirkup, the medical member of the panel and a former associate chief medical officer at the Department of Health, had explained that, of the deceased, 58 "definitely" or "probably" had the capacity to survive beyond the 15:15 cut-off time.

That new evidence, which Mr Grieve said formed the "essential basis" for his application "undermines the coroner's summing-up at the inquests".

In making his judgement, Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge said there had been "deliberate misinformation surrounding the disaster".

"There has been a profound and palpable belief that justice had not been done [and] it is clear there are sound grounds for this application," he said.

He added that the court wanted to "record our admiration and respect [to the families] 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."

As court five of the High Court filled up with the bereaved and survivors of Hillsborough, the room was full of expectation.

They had travelled more than 200 miles to be here, some leaving Liverpool at dawn.

Campaigner Anne Williams, suffering from cancer, was determined to come, and was brought into court in her wheelchair.

This moment has been anticipated for more than two decades.

Relatives were so unhappy with the original verdicts of accidental death, they refused to collect their loved ones' death certificates.

And they have always been angry at the coroner's assessment that all Hillsborough victims were fatally injured by 15:15.

For them, the opportunity to see the verdicts quashed and new inquests ordered was too important to miss.

When it came, normal court decorum was abandoned - the room erupted into applause, some relatives cried, and caught in the moment, one woman shouted "Thank you, your Honour".

The judgement was applauded by the families of some of the victims in the court.

Speaking outside, Mr Hicks, who lost two daughters in the disaster, said the families "couldn't have written it better".

"It's clear now justice is on its way - I think a lot of us are going to have a much happier Christmas," he said.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said he would do "everything I can to help to get new inquests established quickly".

"I have received a request from the Doncaster and Bradford Coroners for a judge to be appointed to conduct these inquests and I am today asking the Lord Chief Justice to make a recommendation to me on suitable candidates as soon as possible," he said.

Mrs May said former Durham Chief Constable Jon Stoddart would lead the new inquiry, which will focus specifically on the 96 deaths of Liverpool fans as a result of what happened at the FA Cup semi-final in 1989.

The fans died after they were crushed within two pens at the Leppings Lane terrace of Sheffield Wednesday's stadium during the semi-final with Nottingham Forest on 15 April 1989.

Mrs May said she was "determined to see a swift and thorough response to the findings of the Hillsborough Panel to deliver justice for the 96 football fans who died and the families who have fought so hard on their behalf".

Mr Stoddart will be able to recruit investigators and staff to his team, but he will not be allowed to employ officers or former officers with any prior connection to the Hillsborough disaster or from the West Midlands, South Yorkshire or Merseyside police forces.

He said he was "aware of the great significance and personal responsibility which comes with leading this criminal investigation".

"My first priority is to meet with as many of the families as possible and to establish a working open relationship with them throughout the investigation," he said.

South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable David Crompton said the force, which policed the game in 1989, would "continue to co-operate fully with any judicial processes".

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Application to Quash Hillsborough

 An application to quash the original Hillsborough inquest verdicts has been made by Attorney General Dominic Grieve.

Families of the victims have campaigned for years to have the original 1991 accidental death verdicts overturned.

Mr Grieve, the government's most senior law officer, made the application to the High Court, paving the way for new hearings.

He said the main basis for the move was new medical evidence.

He explained that the alteration of evidence by the police and other emergency services was also a supporting factor, along with stadium safety.

"I believe that the case for the High Court to quash the original inquests is a good one," Mr Grieve said.

"My application has now been lodged with the court. It is my intention to appear to argue the case at the hearing that will take place in the High Court.

He said the views of the families had been sought before filing the application, with the coroners for South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire also contacted.

A date for the High Court hearing has yet to be fixed.

Ninety-six Liverpool supporters died as a result of the crush on 15 April 1989 at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium, where their team were to meet Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final.

The move comes after a recent damning report into the way the disaster was handled.

Anne Williams, whose son Kevin died in the disaster, wrote on Twitter: "Just received e mail the Attorney General is sending Kevin's case to the divisional courts seeking a new inquest (into) his death."

More than 100,000 people have signed an e-petition calling for a fresh inquest into Kevin Williams' death to be held swiftly as his mother is suffering from cancer.

Mr Grieve announced in October he would make an application to the High Court.

Margaret Aspinall, whose son James, 18, died at Hillsborough, said: "We have waited over 20 years for these verdicts to be overturned and I'm sure all the families will be delighted to hear that these steps are being taken.

"It is a great step towards getting the justice we have fought for."

A report by the Hillsborough Independent Panel in September revealed police and emergency services had made "strenuous attempts" to deflect the blame for the disaster on to fans.

It also found 164 police statements had been altered - 116 of them to remove or change negative comments about the policing of the match.

The report said 41 of the 96 who had died had had the "potential to survive".

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Lawyers Demand New Hillsborough Inquest

Lawyers acting on behalf of families of those killed in the Hillsborough disaster will write to the Attorney General demanding that new inquests be held in Liverpool.

The Hillsborough Families Support Group (HFSG) met at Anfield on Sunday to discuss the next step in its campaign for justice for the 96 victims of the 1989 disaster.

High-profile lawyers for the campaign, Michael Mansfield QC and Lord Falconer, appeared via an internet videolink.

Following the three-and-a-half hour meeting, Trevor Hicks and Margaret Aspinall, chairwoman of the HFSG, who lost her son James, 18, in the tragedy, gave a statement to the media in which they expressed their desire for the inquest verdicts to be overturned and new inquests to be held in Liverpool.

Mr Hicks, from Keighley, West Yorkshire, who lost daughters Vicky, 15, and Sarah, 19, in the disaster, said: "This goes beyond Hillsborough. What was exposed on Wednesday was a disgrace to the nation, not just the families...This goes across society and it's important for society at large not to let this rest."

The statement on behalf of the HFSG, reads: "The findings of the Hillsborough Independent Panel have finally vindicated the families in their 23-year struggle to establish the truth.

"However, after truth must come justice. We have spoken today to our lawyers and taken initial advice.

Actions

"As the families have always believed and insisted, it was the actions and inaction of those in authority that caused the deaths at Hillsborough on April 15, 1989.

"The fans did not contribute to the tragedy. Any blame previously laid at their door has been shown to be part of a despicable conspiracy by those in authority to tarnish the reputations of the dead, the survivors of the disaster and the people of Liverpool.

"This conspiracy has been revealed for what it is; a bid to avoid accountability. Those responsible can avoid accountability no longer."

The HFSG said it had instructed its lawyers to send letters out to "relevant parties" - including the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions - on Monday to "ensure that the machinery of the justice system is put into motion and the families receive a fair hearing".

The HFSG says there are now three avenues which it will "rigorously follow" in the search for justice: new inquests to be held in Liverpool and not Sheffield; a "full and immediate" investigation into criminal prosecutions to be brought against those responsible; and, where appropriate, families will apply for civil proceedings to be re-opened where they may have been dismissed or settled "on a false basis".

The statement also said the families strongly condemn the comments made this week by Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police, Sir Norman Bettison, and describes the "monumental" scale of the wrongdoing and cover-up that will leave an "indelible stain on the reputations of those authorities in whom the public implicitly placed their trust."

On Sunday a complaint against the Chief Constable which emerged following the Hillsborough disclosures was referred to the police watchdog.

West Yorkshire Police Authority's Special Committee agreed to record a complaint against Sir Norman and immediately referred it to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) for investigation.

In a statement Sir Norman said he was "pleased" to have the matter investigated.

Sir Norman was an off-duty South Yorkshire Police inspector when he attended the game and was involved in an internal inquiry held by the force in its aftermath.

The damning Hillsborough Independent Panel report revealed a cover-up took place to shift the blame on to the victims and that 41 of the 96 lives lost at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium could have been saved.

The panel found that 164 police statements were altered, 116 of them to remove or alter "unfavourable" comments about the policing of the match and the unfolding disaster.

Reviews have been ordered by police authorities in West Yorkshire, into the actions of Sir Norman, and West Midlands, which also conducted an investigation into the disaster.

South Yorkshire Police, which still employs 195 officers who were on duty at the ground on the day of the tragedy, said the force would refer itself to the IPCC.

Chief constable David Crompton said South Yorkshire Police would consider asking the IPCC whether those involved in the Hillsborough tragedy should face manslaughter investigations.

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PM Apology for Hillsborough Injustice

David Cameron has said he is profoundly sorry for the "double injustice" of the Hillsborough disaster.

Speaking after an independent report into previously unseen documents about the tragedy, the prime minister said police had failed to do enough and had also tried to blame Liverpool fans.

Ninety-six fans died after a crush at Sheffield Wednesday's ground in 1989.

Kelvin MacKenzie, Sun editor when the paper ran a story blaming fans, offered "profuse apologies" for his headline.

The report comes after 23 years of campaigning from Liverpool fans and relatives of the victims to find out exactly what happened on the day of the disaster, which saw the biggest loss of life at any UK sporting event.'Truth is out'

Liverpool FC chairman Tom Werner said: "The world has heard the real truth about what happened at Hillsborough."

The Hillsborough Justice Campaign has welcomed the prime minister's apology.

And Trevor Hicks, who chairs the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said: "We feel a breakthrough has been made.

"The truth is out today and the justice starts tomorrow."

But he rejected Mr MacKenzie's apology as "too little, too late".

Mr MacKenzie wrote the headline The Truth on the controversial front page report, published in the days following the disaster, which alleged fans had picked pockets of victims, urinated on police and beat up officers trying to save lives.

He said in a statement he had been misled and added: "I published in good faith and I am sorry that it was so wrong."

The report was compiled by the Hillsborough Independent Panel, which has been scrutinising more than 450,000 pages of documents for the past 18 months.

It report found of 164 police statements identified for "substantive amendment", 116 were "amended to remove or alter comments unfavourable to South Yorkshire Police".

Mr Cameron told the House of Commons the panel found the safety of the crowds at Hillsborough had been "compromised at every level" and a swifter response from emergency services could have saved lives.

He said there were three main areas highlighted in the report - failures by the authorities in protecting those at the ground, an attempt to blame the fans and doubt cast on the original coroner's inquest.

Mr Cameron said the independent panel's review found:

New evidence about how the authorities failed, including documents which show a delay from the emergency services when people were being crushed

Shortcomings in the response by the ambulance service and other emergency services in addition to failings by police

Rescue attempts were held back by failures of leadership and co-ordination

Victims' families were correct in their belief that some of the authorities attempted to create a "completely unjust" account of events that sought to blame the fans

"Despicable untruths" about the behaviour of fans were part of police efforts "to develop and publicise a version of events that focused on allegations of drunkenness, ticketlessness and violence"

Police officers carried out police national computer checks on those who had died in an attempt "to impugn the reputations of the deceased"

No evidence of any government trying to conceal the truth

Mr Cameron added "deficiencies" at the ground were well known and it failed to meet minimum safety standards.

He apologised for the double injustice, which was both in the "failure of the state to protect their loved ones and the indefensible wait to get to the truth", and in the efforts to denigrate the deceased and suggest that they were "somehow at fault for their own deaths".

He said details of the report were "deeply distressing" and said it showed the Liverpool fans "were not the cause of the disaster".'Potential to survive'

Relatives of the Liverpool supporters who died at Hillsborough were handed the report at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral on Wednesday morning.

It showed police and emergency services made "strenuous attempts" to deflect the blame for the disaster on to innocent fans.

The panel said it found evidence the police's submissions to the original inquiry led by Lord Chief Justice Taylor "emphasised exceptional, aggressive and un-anticipated crowd behaviour".

It said the first inquiry also emphasised "large numbers of ticketless, drunk and obstinate fans involved in concerted action, even 'conspiracy', to enter the stadium".

Mr Cameron said Attorney General Dominic Grieve would review the report as quickly as possible in order to decide whether to apply to the High Court to order a new inquest.

The families have always challenged the original inquest which concluded all the victims were dead or brain dead 15 minutes after the game had kicked off at 15:00.

By analysing post mortem test results, the panel found 28 of the 96 victims had no" obstruction of blood circulation" and there was "separate evidence that, in 31, the heart and lungs had continued to function after the crush".

Dr Bill Kirkup, panel member and associate chief medical officer in the Department of Health said that, if the emergency response had been swifter, almost half the victims could have had some chance of survival.

"In total, 41 people therefore had potential to survive after the period of 3:15. What I can't say is how many of those could have been saved.

"But I can say is that the potential is of that order of magnitude."

Liverpool Walton Labour MP Steve Rotheram said it was a "momentous day for Liverpool".

He said: "Finally, we have the undeniable truth. The truth that many innocent people could and should have been saved.

"A truth that unequivocally confirms that Liverpool fans were not the cause of the disaster and that drink was not a significant factor."

He added: "It is not about retribution it is about responsibility. Today we have made history but now we must change history."

Sheffield Wednesday issued an apology on Wednesday morning to all the families whose relatives were involved.

The club said on its website: "Throughout the compilation stage, the club has worked closely with the panel and the other donating organisations to ensure that, in line with the ethos of maximum disclosure, we have been totally transparent.

"The club would like to offer our sincere condolences and an apology to all the families who have suffered as a consequence of the tragic events of 15 April 1989."

A number of the victims' families have been campaigning for the Hillsborough documents to be released for more than 20 years.

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