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20/04/2009
Hillsborough Disaster Documents 'To Be Made Public'
Hundreds of official documents relating to the Hillsborough Disaster are to be made public for the first time, following a 20-year campaign for justice by the victim's families.
Medical files and police reports are among the files which could be made public ten years early, after a request was made by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.
The documents are currently subject to the 30-year rule, which effectively would keep them under lock and key for another decade.
Ninety-six Liverpool fans were crushed to death in Britain's worst football tragedy at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium on April 15, 1989. Liverpool had met Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final.
Families of the victim's have welcomed the move.
Trevor Hicks, of the Hillsborough Families Support Group said: "This will enable us to see the full picture of events in a way that we have been denied for 20 years.
"It is vital that these files are released in full and not sanitised in any way."
In a statement, the Home Secretary said: "The Government is committed to helping those who lost loved ones in the Hillsborough tragedy.
"That is why I will be working with colleagues in the Ministry of Justice, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Attorney General’s Office to put out any information that exists that could shed light on the disaster and its aftermath in the public domain as soon as possible."
The 20th anniversary of the tragedy was marked with memorial services in Liverpool, Sheffield and Nottingham last Wednesday, amidst calls for further investigations.
Culture Minister Andy Burnham was heckled during the memorial service at Liverpool's Anfield grounds by fans demanding justice.
He said: "There is a case for full disclosure by any public body of any document previously unpublished which would shed light on the disaster and its aftermath. It is vital that we have transparency."
(JM/KMcA)
Medical files and police reports are among the files which could be made public ten years early, after a request was made by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.
The documents are currently subject to the 30-year rule, which effectively would keep them under lock and key for another decade.
Ninety-six Liverpool fans were crushed to death in Britain's worst football tragedy at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium on April 15, 1989. Liverpool had met Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final.
Families of the victim's have welcomed the move.
Trevor Hicks, of the Hillsborough Families Support Group said: "This will enable us to see the full picture of events in a way that we have been denied for 20 years.
"It is vital that these files are released in full and not sanitised in any way."
In a statement, the Home Secretary said: "The Government is committed to helping those who lost loved ones in the Hillsborough tragedy.
"That is why I will be working with colleagues in the Ministry of Justice, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Attorney General’s Office to put out any information that exists that could shed light on the disaster and its aftermath in the public domain as soon as possible."
The 20th anniversary of the tragedy was marked with memorial services in Liverpool, Sheffield and Nottingham last Wednesday, amidst calls for further investigations.
Culture Minister Andy Burnham was heckled during the memorial service at Liverpool's Anfield grounds by fans demanding justice.
He said: "There is a case for full disclosure by any public body of any document previously unpublished which would shed light on the disaster and its aftermath. It is vital that we have transparency."
(JM/KMcA)
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13 February 2013
Coroner Announced For Hillsborough Inquest
Lord Justice Goldring has been announced as the coroner to oversee the new inquests into the Hillsborough disaster. Fresh inquests are to be held into Britain’s worst sporting disaster, in which 96 football fans were crushed to death at a 1989 FA Cup semi-final on the steel-fenced terraces of Sheffield Wednesday’s home stadium.
Coroner Announced For Hillsborough Inquest
Lord Justice Goldring has been announced as the coroner to oversee the new inquests into the Hillsborough disaster. Fresh inquests are to be held into Britain’s worst sporting disaster, in which 96 football fans were crushed to death at a 1989 FA Cup semi-final on the steel-fenced terraces of Sheffield Wednesday’s home stadium.
09 April 2014
Michael Nyman Composes Hillsborough Memorial Symphony
The celebrated British composer Michael Nyman has composed an hour-long Hillsborough memorial symphony based on the music he was recording on the afternoon of the tragedy.
Michael Nyman Composes Hillsborough Memorial Symphony
The celebrated British composer Michael Nyman has composed an hour-long Hillsborough memorial symphony based on the music he was recording on the afternoon of the tragedy.
19 December 2012
New Police Inquiry Into Hillsborough Disaster To Launch
The Home Secretary has announced a new police inquiry into the Hillsborough disaster, as the Attorney General urged the High Court to quash the inquest verdicts on the 96 victims. The new investigation will be headed by former Durham Chief Constable Jon Stoddart and will re-examine what happened in 1989.
New Police Inquiry Into Hillsborough Disaster To Launch
The Home Secretary has announced a new police inquiry into the Hillsborough disaster, as the Attorney General urged the High Court to quash the inquest verdicts on the 96 victims. The new investigation will be headed by former Durham Chief Constable Jon Stoddart and will re-examine what happened in 1989.
15 March 2012
'Drunken Fans' Blamed For Hillsborough Tragedy
Confidential government documents have revealed a senior Merseyside police officer blamed "drunken Liverpool fans" for causing the Hillsborough disaster. The BBC has seen leaked briefings sent to former PM Margaret Thatcher about Britain's worst sports tragedy.
'Drunken Fans' Blamed For Hillsborough Tragedy
Confidential government documents have revealed a senior Merseyside police officer blamed "drunken Liverpool fans" for causing the Hillsborough disaster. The BBC has seen leaked briefings sent to former PM Margaret Thatcher about Britain's worst sports tragedy.
15 April 2015
Liverpool Marks 26th Anniversary Of Hillsborough
A one minute silence is to be observed in Liverpool at 15:06 to mark the 26th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. Bells will also toll across the city 96 times, in memory of the 96 people who died at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final at the Hillsborough stadium.
Liverpool Marks 26th Anniversary Of Hillsborough
A one minute silence is to be observed in Liverpool at 15:06 to mark the 26th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. Bells will also toll across the city 96 times, in memory of the 96 people who died at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final at the Hillsborough stadium.
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