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| 'This affects all football fans': readers react to the Hillsborough verdict | 'This affects all football fans': readers react to the Hillsborough verdict |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| After two years an inquest jury have exonerated fans and ruled that the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster were unlawfully killed. Answering questions about what happened on 15 April 1989 the jury, consisting of six women and three men, ruled that police are to blame for the failings. | After two years an inquest jury have exonerated fans and ruled that the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster were unlawfully killed. Answering questions about what happened on 15 April 1989 the jury, consisting of six women and three men, ruled that police are to blame for the failings. |
| With emotions high after a long campaign by families we asked you what you thought about the verdict. Here’s what you said. | With emotions high after a long campaign by families we asked you what you thought about the verdict. Here’s what you said. |
| Related: Hillsborough disaster: deadly mistakes and lies that lasted decades | Related: Hillsborough disaster: deadly mistakes and lies that lasted decades |
| ‘Those responsible have had 27 years of liberty and life denied to the dead’ | ‘Those responsible have had 27 years of liberty and life denied to the dead’ |
| The absolutely perfect repudiation of the establishment’s attempt at a cover up and desire to defame the dead. A fantastic day but has come far far too late. Those responsible have had 27 years of liberty and life denied to the dead and their families, and many of those who knew of the injustice visited on their kith and kin have died not knowing that this day would ever come. | The absolutely perfect repudiation of the establishment’s attempt at a cover up and desire to defame the dead. A fantastic day but has come far far too late. Those responsible have had 27 years of liberty and life denied to the dead and their families, and many of those who knew of the injustice visited on their kith and kin have died not knowing that this day would ever come. |
| I was supposed to go with my brother and my then pregnant wife to the match that day, but as she was not feeling well I stayed at home in Leeds. I was angry at the time but remember watching the horror unfold on the BBC. It was hours before my brother arrived home. We all cried for hours but he was inconsoleable. I often look at my now adult son and wonder what would have happened to him if I had gone. Andrew Thornber, 50, chief finance officer, Abu Dhabi | I was supposed to go with my brother and my then pregnant wife to the match that day, but as she was not feeling well I stayed at home in Leeds. I was angry at the time but remember watching the horror unfold on the BBC. It was hours before my brother arrived home. We all cried for hours but he was inconsoleable. I often look at my now adult son and wonder what would have happened to him if I had gone. Andrew Thornber, 50, chief finance officer, Abu Dhabi |
| I speak as somebody who attended the match at Hillsborough. I entered the ground through the Leppings Lane turnstiles over an hour before kick off and, even at that time, the crush to get in was worse than anything I have experienced before or since. There seemed to be a complete absence of organisation by police or stewards. I then sat in the stand and watched the events of the afternoon unfold. In common with others at the game, I know and always have known precisely what went on. | I speak as somebody who attended the match at Hillsborough. I entered the ground through the Leppings Lane turnstiles over an hour before kick off and, even at that time, the crush to get in was worse than anything I have experienced before or since. There seemed to be a complete absence of organisation by police or stewards. I then sat in the stand and watched the events of the afternoon unfold. In common with others at the game, I know and always have known precisely what went on. |
| It is in that context that I would like to say that today, for the first time, some sort of justice had been done. The fact that it has taken 27 years for this to happen, a delay caused entirely by the lies, evasion, dishonesty and downright criminal behaviour of some in the establishment, is one of the most disgraceful things that I have ever witnessed in my life. | It is in that context that I would like to say that today, for the first time, some sort of justice had been done. The fact that it has taken 27 years for this to happen, a delay caused entirely by the lies, evasion, dishonesty and downright criminal behaviour of some in the establishment, is one of the most disgraceful things that I have ever witnessed in my life. |
| ‘Over 20 years too late’ | ‘Over 20 years too late’ |
| I was living in Liverpool at the time and the sense of loss and grief being trampled on by the authorities determined to blame the fans was overwhelming. It felt like the police, the government and football authorities were acting in collusion to cause maximum trauma; in effect blaming the city for the tragedy that befell it. The verdict is over 20 years too late. It is a vindication of the claims of those who were there and the families of those unlawfully killed that the process had been manipulated to hide the truth and protect the guilty. Paul Mingard, 63, web designer, Northumberland | I was living in Liverpool at the time and the sense of loss and grief being trampled on by the authorities determined to blame the fans was overwhelming. It felt like the police, the government and football authorities were acting in collusion to cause maximum trauma; in effect blaming the city for the tragedy that befell it. The verdict is over 20 years too late. It is a vindication of the claims of those who were there and the families of those unlawfully killed that the process had been manipulated to hide the truth and protect the guilty. Paul Mingard, 63, web designer, Northumberland |
| ‘Hopefully other fabrications and distortion of facts will be exposed’ | ‘Hopefully other fabrications and distortion of facts will be exposed’ |
| Justice at last for the 96 and vindication for the tireless efforts of the bereaved families. But it has taken too long. Lord Justice Taylor’s report in 1989 clearly stated where the blame lay. Shamefully nothing was done about it then. Hopefully though, fabrications and distortion of facts by the police in other areas will be further exposed. Roger House, 62, teacher, Greece | Justice at last for the 96 and vindication for the tireless efforts of the bereaved families. But it has taken too long. Lord Justice Taylor’s report in 1989 clearly stated where the blame lay. Shamefully nothing was done about it then. Hopefully though, fabrications and distortion of facts by the police in other areas will be further exposed. Roger House, 62, teacher, Greece |
| ‘I’m a Chelsea fan myself but this affects all football fans’ | ‘I’m a Chelsea fan myself but this affects all football fans’ |
| Fantastic result and verdict for the 96 and the surviving family members. The establishment covered it up Thatcher included shame on her for ever. The Sun newspaper should hang its head in shame and South Yorkshire police force should be now brought to book they are not above the law. I’m a Chelsea fan myself but all real football fans mourn with the families of the 96. Kevin Davies, 56, aircraft fitter, Bargoed in south Wales | Fantastic result and verdict for the 96 and the surviving family members. The establishment covered it up Thatcher included shame on her for ever. The Sun newspaper should hang its head in shame and South Yorkshire police force should be now brought to book they are not above the law. I’m a Chelsea fan myself but all real football fans mourn with the families of the 96. Kevin Davies, 56, aircraft fitter, Bargoed in south Wales |
| This is extremely heartening news. Well done everyone (including Andy Burnham) who was involved in fighting for this, against the massive odds. The state doesn't admit wrong-doing and very very rarely hangs out its own (witness Chilcott and the weasely delays there). | This is extremely heartening news. Well done everyone (including Andy Burnham) who was involved in fighting for this, against the massive odds. The state doesn't admit wrong-doing and very very rarely hangs out its own (witness Chilcott and the weasely delays there). |
| For any of the regular fools who say things like 'I don't believe in conspiracy theories' or 'I tend to believe more in cock-up than conspiracy', well this was a conspiracy by the Police to blame the fans for the own deaths by trying to deflect from their own incompetence and criminal neglect by blackening the name of the dead and dying fans and indeed an entire city. And they conducted a massive cover-up, and roped in the Sun to do a disgusting hatchet job. And they got away with it for the best part of 25 years.The verdict is truly astounding and I am so happy for all of you. | For any of the regular fools who say things like 'I don't believe in conspiracy theories' or 'I tend to believe more in cock-up than conspiracy', well this was a conspiracy by the Police to blame the fans for the own deaths by trying to deflect from their own incompetence and criminal neglect by blackening the name of the dead and dying fans and indeed an entire city. And they conducted a massive cover-up, and roped in the Sun to do a disgusting hatchet job. And they got away with it for the best part of 25 years.The verdict is truly astounding and I am so happy for all of you. |
| ‘Thank goodness for the families and Liverpool FC’ | ‘Thank goodness for the families and Liverpool FC’ |
| My son and myself were standing on the north bankf of Arsenal FC when news came though via the BBC of the disaster. Initially we all believed the false charges of Liverpool fans drinking and mayhem. However, it took most of us about a week to realise that not only was this not true but the police (as usual at that time) had lied. Thank goodness for Lord Justice Taylor who has saved many lives. But thank goodness for the families and Liverpool FC for finally dragging the truth out of a corrupt police force. For us, even miles away, Liverpudlians will never walk alone. Dr Michael Collins, 73, retired academic, Nova Scotia in Canada | My son and myself were standing on the north bankf of Arsenal FC when news came though via the BBC of the disaster. Initially we all believed the false charges of Liverpool fans drinking and mayhem. However, it took most of us about a week to realise that not only was this not true but the police (as usual at that time) had lied. Thank goodness for Lord Justice Taylor who has saved many lives. But thank goodness for the families and Liverpool FC for finally dragging the truth out of a corrupt police force. For us, even miles away, Liverpudlians will never walk alone. Dr Michael Collins, 73, retired academic, Nova Scotia in Canada |
| Related: Hillsborough victims: the 96 people whose lives were cut short | Related: Hillsborough victims: the 96 people whose lives were cut short |
| ‘Let this be a wake up call to not simply accept the line taken by authority’ | ‘Let this be a wake up call to not simply accept the line taken by authority’ |
| It beggars belief that it took 27 years to reach a verdict that the fans were not drunk or in any way to blame for the crush. The suggestion that enough fans were so drunk that they walked like zombies into a human crush is utterly ridiculous even to the least inquiring mind. At the very least more questions could - and should - have been asked at the time. Let this be a wake up call to not simply accept the line taken by authority. It’s a poignant lesson to learn on a day that the junior doctors are on strike because a tissue of lies by the obstinate Jeremy Hunt about weekend deaths in NHS hospitals. Ask questions, seek the truth and demand a government that does the same. AW1983, 33, company secretary, Andover | It beggars belief that it took 27 years to reach a verdict that the fans were not drunk or in any way to blame for the crush. The suggestion that enough fans were so drunk that they walked like zombies into a human crush is utterly ridiculous even to the least inquiring mind. At the very least more questions could - and should - have been asked at the time. Let this be a wake up call to not simply accept the line taken by authority. It’s a poignant lesson to learn on a day that the junior doctors are on strike because a tissue of lies by the obstinate Jeremy Hunt about weekend deaths in NHS hospitals. Ask questions, seek the truth and demand a government that does the same. AW1983, 33, company secretary, Andover |
| ‘Many people have apologies to make’ | ‘Many people have apologies to make’ |
| Exceptionally happy for the families and friends of the 96. Their prolonged struggle for justice is finally drawing to a close. Also, the false reports against Liverpool fans have been shown to be just that: untrue. Many people have apologies to make and some may yet be taken further than that. Reagan Ward, 18, student, Melbourne in Australia | Exceptionally happy for the families and friends of the 96. Their prolonged struggle for justice is finally drawing to a close. Also, the false reports against Liverpool fans have been shown to be just that: untrue. Many people have apologies to make and some may yet be taken further than that. Reagan Ward, 18, student, Melbourne in Australia |
| 27 years to prove what we knew all along. I hope everybody who played some part, however big or small, in furthering that delay, is thoroughly ashamed of their actions. The families (and many other survivors and campaigners) have effectively given up around a third of their lives to expose the lies and smears. | 27 years to prove what we knew all along. I hope everybody who played some part, however big or small, in furthering that delay, is thoroughly ashamed of their actions. The families (and many other survivors and campaigners) have effectively given up around a third of their lives to expose the lies and smears. |
| And I also hope all those people who were so quick to believe the lies of the police, and the smears in the S*n, have learnt to question what they read, even if it is something that is consistent with their own prejudices. | And I also hope all those people who were so quick to believe the lies of the police, and the smears in the S*n, have learnt to question what they read, even if it is something that is consistent with their own prejudices. |
| It is now clear that lives were still in the balance when the Police operation to shift the blame swung into action. Sadly we'll never know how many of the 96 would have survived if instead of covering their backsides, they'd called a major incident and got on with their jobs (some heroic individuals excepted). | It is now clear that lives were still in the balance when the Police operation to shift the blame swung into action. Sadly we'll never know how many of the 96 would have survived if instead of covering their backsides, they'd called a major incident and got on with their jobs (some heroic individuals excepted). |
| Related: How are we, the Hillsborough families, still standing? We took the power back | Julie Fallon | Related: How are we, the Hillsborough families, still standing? We took the power back | Julie Fallon |
| ‘I burst into tears’ | ‘I burst into tears’ |
| At the heart of this is a deep seated hatred of ordinary working class people by the establishment. The South Yorkshire Police force have shown a similar disdain of the poor in Rotherham too. I am thrown back to the miner’s strike, the lies and demonisation of the people then and even now by the press and politicians in Westminster. I burst into tears. To wait 20 fucking years for justice is a disgrace. I am disgusted by the ruling classes in England. If this isn’t class war I don’t know what is. There is a reason why I live abroad. Anonymous, 51, musician, Berlin | |
| ‘So pleased. They should never have had to fight for so long’ | ‘So pleased. They should never have had to fight for so long’ |
| At last. Justice for the innocent victims and their families. What an outrage that the police and other agencies changed evidence and lied to cover their own failings. What a despicable newspaper the Sun only printing the establishment take on stories regardless of how many lies they tell. So pleased for the relatives. They should never have had to fight for so long. Angie, teacher, Carlisle | At last. Justice for the innocent victims and their families. What an outrage that the police and other agencies changed evidence and lied to cover their own failings. What a despicable newspaper the Sun only printing the establishment take on stories regardless of how many lies they tell. So pleased for the relatives. They should never have had to fight for so long. Angie, teacher, Carlisle |
| ‘There must be speedy and proper compensation’ | |
| It is now time for all of those police officers involved in the cover up to be put on trial and if prosecuted, imprisoned. Secondly, there must be speedy and proper compensation granted to all of those families who suffered as a result of the gross and deliberate perversion of justice and stubborn abuses of due process over some 27 years by the very people entrusted with the responsibility for defending it. Anonymous, retired, Scotland |