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Hillsborough inquest timeline: the long wait for justice | Hillsborough inquest timeline: the long wait for justice |
(about 1 hour later) | |
27 March 1989 | 27 March 1989 |
South Yorkshire police chief constable Peter Wright replaces Ch Supt Brian Mole, the experienced commander of football matches at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough ground. Wright promotes David Duckenfield, who had never commanded a match at Hillsborough before, in Mole’s place. | South Yorkshire police chief constable Peter Wright replaces Ch Supt Brian Mole, the experienced commander of football matches at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough ground. Wright promotes David Duckenfield, who had never commanded a match at Hillsborough before, in Mole’s place. |
15 April 1989 | 15 April 1989 |
Nineteen days after Duckenfield is appointed, 54,000 people come to attend the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. In the lethal crush, 96 men, women and children are fatally injured. | Nineteen days after Duckenfield is appointed, 54,000 people come to attend the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. In the lethal crush, 96 men, women and children are fatally injured. |
1 August 1989 | 1 August 1989 |
Lord Justice Taylor’s official report into the disaster emphatically blames police mismanagement of the event and criticises South Yorkshire police for blaming Liverpool supporters instead of accepting responsibility. Wright states that he fully accepts the findings. | Lord Justice Taylor’s official report into the disaster emphatically blames police mismanagement of the event and criticises South Yorkshire police for blaming Liverpool supporters instead of accepting responsibility. Wright states that he fully accepts the findings. |
30 August 1990 | 30 August 1990 |
The Crown Prosecution Service decides there is insufficient evidence to justify criminal proceedings against anybody from any organisation for any offence arising out of the deaths. | The Crown Prosecution Service decides there is insufficient evidence to justify criminal proceedings against anybody from any organisation for any offence arising out of the deaths. |
October 1990 | October 1990 |
South Yorkshire police admits it was negligent and failed in its duty of care to the people attending the match when settling civil claims brought by bereaved families and injured people. | South Yorkshire police admits it was negligent and failed in its duty of care to the people attending the match when settling civil claims brought by bereaved families and injured people. |
19 November 1990 | 19 November 1990 |
First inquest opens in Sheffield, heard by the local coroner, Dr Stefan Popper. South Yorkshire police renew their case that drunk supporters who arrived late and ticketless were to blame. | First inquest opens in Sheffield, heard by the local coroner, Dr Stefan Popper. South Yorkshire police renew their case that drunk supporters who arrived late and ticketless were to blame. |
28 March 1991 | 28 March 1991 |
Inquest jury returns a majority verdict of accidental death. | Inquest jury returns a majority verdict of accidental death. |
29 October 1991 | 29 October 1991 |
With police disciplinary action proceeding against Duckenfield, he retires on medical grounds, diagnosed with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. His retirement stops the disciplinary action and enables him to receive a full pension, which is being paid to this day. | With police disciplinary action proceeding against Duckenfield, he retires on medical grounds, diagnosed with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. His retirement stops the disciplinary action and enables him to receive a full pension, which is being paid to this day. |
13 January 1992 | 13 January 1992 |
The only other disciplinary action, against Supt Bernard Murray, the police control box commander at Hillsborough, is dropped. It is deemed to be unfair to continue to discipline Murray, because Duckenfield is no longer facing charges. | The only other disciplinary action, against Supt Bernard Murray, the police control box commander at Hillsborough, is dropped. It is deemed to be unfair to continue to discipline Murray, because Duckenfield is no longer facing charges. |
5 November 1993 | 5 November 1993 |
A judicial review application by six representative families to quash the inquest verdict is rejected by Lord Justice McCowan in the divisional court. McCowan rules that the inquest was properly conducted. Families continue to campaign for justice. | A judicial review application by six representative families to quash the inquest verdict is rejected by Lord Justice McCowan in the divisional court. McCowan rules that the inquest was properly conducted. Families continue to campaign for justice. |
5 December 1996 | 5 December 1996 |
ITV broadcasts a drama documentary written by Jimmy McGovern, researched by journalist Katy Jones, which powerfully highlights the families’ complaints of injustice and allegations of a police cover-up. | ITV broadcasts a drama documentary written by Jimmy McGovern, researched by journalist Katy Jones, which powerfully highlights the families’ complaints of injustice and allegations of a police cover-up. |
30 June 1997 | 30 June 1997 |
The new Labour government orders the “scrutiny” of new evidence by Lord Justice Stuart-Smith. It is found that South Yorkshire police changed 164 officers’ accounts of the disaster before sending them to the Taylor inquiry. According to a civil service note (pdf) that became public in 1997, the then home secretary, Jack Straw, did not believe there was sufficient evidence for a new inquiry but said such an assertion had to come from an independent source such as a judge to be “acceptable”. The then prime minister, Tony Blair, had written across the note about setting up a new inquiry: “Why? What is the point.” | The new Labour government orders the “scrutiny” of new evidence by Lord Justice Stuart-Smith. It is found that South Yorkshire police changed 164 officers’ accounts of the disaster before sending them to the Taylor inquiry. According to a civil service note (pdf) that became public in 1997, the then home secretary, Jack Straw, did not believe there was sufficient evidence for a new inquiry but said such an assertion had to come from an independent source such as a judge to be “acceptable”. The then prime minister, Tony Blair, had written across the note about setting up a new inquiry: “Why? What is the point.” |
13 February 1998 | 13 February 1998 |
Stuart-Smith rejects any grounds for prosecutions or quashing the inquest verdict. Straw accepts that conclusion. | Stuart-Smith rejects any grounds for prosecutions or quashing the inquest verdict. Straw accepts that conclusion. |
August 1998 | August 1998 |
Having raised funds with a concert, the Hillsborough Family Support Group mounts a private prosecution of Duckenfield and Murray. | Having raised funds with a concert, the Hillsborough Family Support Group mounts a private prosecution of Duckenfield and Murray. |
24 July 2000 | 24 July 2000 |
Murray is acquitted in the private prosecution at Leeds crown court; the jury does not reach a verdict on Duckenfield, who has exercised his right not to give evidence. The judge, Mr Justice Hooper, rules that Duckenfield should not face a retrial. | |
12 April 2009 | 12 April 2009 |
Twenty years after Hillsborough, the Guardian highlights the families’ ongoing grievances and complaints of injustice. Then Labour ministers Andy Burnham and Maria Eagle resolve to call for all documents relating to the disaster to be published. | Twenty years after Hillsborough, the Guardian highlights the families’ ongoing grievances and complaints of injustice. Then Labour ministers Andy Burnham and Maria Eagle resolve to call for all documents relating to the disaster to be published. |
15 April 2009 | 15 April 2009 |
Burnham’s speech to the 20th anniversary memorial service at Anfield is interrupted with calls from the crowd of “justice for the 96”. His call for disclosure is supported by Gordon Brown’s government. | Burnham’s speech to the 20th anniversary memorial service at Anfield is interrupted with calls from the crowd of “justice for the 96”. His call for disclosure is supported by Gordon Brown’s government. |
12 September 2012 | 12 September 2012 |
The Hillsborough Independent Panel, which has reviewed 450,000 documents disclosed to it, publishes its report. The police failings are highlighted, and their campaign to blame supporters further exposed. The Conservative home secretary, Theresa May, accepts the report and orders a new criminal inquiry into the disaster, Operation Resolve. The Independent Police Complaints Commission launches an investigation into alleged malpractice by the police in the case made afterwards. | The Hillsborough Independent Panel, which has reviewed 450,000 documents disclosed to it, publishes its report. The police failings are highlighted, and their campaign to blame supporters further exposed. The Conservative home secretary, Theresa May, accepts the report and orders a new criminal inquiry into the disaster, Operation Resolve. The Independent Police Complaints Commission launches an investigation into alleged malpractice by the police in the case made afterwards. |
19 December 2012 | 19 December 2012 |
The verdict in the first inquest is quashed by the lord chief justice, Igor Judge, and two other judges, who find that it was not properly conducted. | The verdict in the first inquest is quashed by the lord chief justice, Igor Judge, and two other judges, who find that it was not properly conducted. |
31 March 2014 | 31 March 2014 |
The new inquests begin in Birchwood, Warrington. Together they become by far the longest case ever heard by a jury in British legal history. | |
26 April 2016 | |
The inquest jury delivers its verdict. Among the 14 questions it is asked to decide upon, it concludes: | The inquest jury delivers its verdict. Among the 14 questions it is asked to decide upon, it concludes: |
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