Hillsborough families' inquest call

Monday 17 September 2012

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

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Russell Leadbetter

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

Following the meeting, Trevor Hicks and Margaret Aspinall, chairwoman of the HFSG, who lost her son James, 18, in the tragedy, expressed their desire for the inquest verdicts to be overturned and new inquests 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 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."As the families have always believed and insisted, it was the actions and inaction of those in authority that caused the deaths. The fans did not contribute to the tragedy. Any blame laid at their door has been shown to be part of a despicable conspiracy to tarnish reputations of the dead, survivors of the disaster and the people of Liverpool." The Hillsborough Independent Panel report revealed a cover-up to shift the blame on to the victims and that 41 of the 96 lives lost 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.Meanwhile, an ambulance driver, now living on Bute, who drove on to the pitch during the disaster has told how he hoped the publication of last week's report could help him to move on.Former South Yorkshire paramedic Tony Edwards said: "I've had a great deal of difficulty with that over the years. For the first time in 23 years I can actually see an end to this."

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Hillsborough families' inquest call

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