Justice for the ’96. YNWA!

On 15 April 1989, ninety-six children, men and women lost their lives at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium.

Investigations into the disaster followed with many fans showing that their ticket for the semi-final hadn’t even been checked – still in it’s full tact. It was obvious that someone had opened too many gates at the Leppings Lane end, letting fans stream into an already full to capacity area surrounded by fencing meaning an overflow of fans were inside the enclosed area.

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 Hillsborough inquests commenced on 1 April 2014. At the beginning of these proceedings, the families were asked to write Pen Portraits in memory of lost loved ones, which they then read out in court.

On 26 April 2016, The jury at the inquests into the deaths of 96 Liverpool supporters at an FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough on 15 April 1989 ruled that they were unlawfully killed.

The jury also found that the behaviour of the fans did not cause or contribute to the disaster.

The jury came to their conclusions having deliberated on issues in relation to police planning before the game, stadium safety and the emergency services’ response to the unfolding disaster.

In April 2016, a private prosecution was launched on behalf of victim’s relatives against both SYP and the West Midlands Police force (who had investigated the actions of SYP), alleging a concerted cover-up designed to shift blame away from the police.

Hillsborough disaster: survivors seek justice for alleged police cover-up

You’ll Never Walk Alone – 25th Anniversary of Hillsborough: https://youtu.be/HoqSlmyFMeU