"And families, who had already lost everything, were forced to watch on as their loved ones were smeared and blamed for their own deaths. At the first inquest, senior police officers were flanked by an army of taxpayer-funded lawyers, while the families scraped together what they could for a single barrister all the might of the state against ordinary people, raw with grief."
"And it was only after decades of struggle that further inquests finally confirmed what the families had always known: that the 97 were unlawfully killed and bore no responsibility for the disaster. We can never allow this to happen again. From second left: David Lammy, justice minister Alex Davies-Jones and attorney general Lord Richard Hermer lay wreaths at the Hillsborough memorial at Anfield, Liverpool, 15 September 2025. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA On Monday, in Liverpool, it was an honour and a privilege to meet the Hillsborough families."
On 15 April 1989 a crush at Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield caused the deaths of 95 Liverpool fans, with two more dying later from their injuries. Authorities closed ranks, covered up failings, and prioritized protecting reputations over public duty. Bereaved families faced smear campaigns and had minimal legal support while police benefited from taxpayer-funded lawyers. After decades of campaigning, further inquests concluded that all 97 were unlawfully killed and bore no responsibility. Ministers met families, praised their dignity and selflessness, and announced a Hillsborough law intended to bring cultural change and new professional safeguards.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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