By Andrew Warshaw
September 12 – Twenty-three years after the event, British Prime Minister David Cameron today apologised for what he described as “deeply distressing” new evidence about the 1989 Hillsborough disaster and the circumstances in which 96 people died.
Speaking after the release of an explosive independent report into previously unseen documents, the Prime Minister disclosed that police had failed to do enough, that they had tried to blame Liverpool fans for the tragedy and that safety had been “compromised at every level”.
The fans were crushed to death on overcrowded terraces at Sheffield Wednesday’s ground during an FA cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest, one of the worst sporting disasters of the modern age.
The report was compiled by the Hillsborough Independent Panel, which scrutinised more than 450,000 pages of documents over the past 18 months.
Addressing MPs in the House of Commons, Cameron said it was now clear that a swifter response from emergency services could have saved lives.
He said there were three main areas highlighted in the report – failures by the authorities in protecting those at the ground, an attempt to blame the fans and doubt cast on the original coroner’s inquest.
“These families have suffered a double injustice,” said Cameron (pictured above, centre).
“The injustice of the appalling events…and then the injustice of the denigration of the deceased that they were somehow at fault for their own deaths.”
There had been, he added, an “indefensible wait to get to the truth”.
“With the weight of the new evidence in this report, it is right for me today as Prime Minister to make a proper apology to the families of the 96 for all they have suffered over the past 23 years.”
The independent panel’s review highlighted several areas of concern including:
• New evidence about how the authorities failed, including documents which show a delay from the emergency services when people were being crushed
• Shortcomings in the response by the ambulance service and other emergency services in addition to failings by police
• Rescue attempts were held back by failures of leadership and coordination
• Victims’ families were correct in their belief that some of the authorities attempted to create a “completely unjust” account of events that sought to blame the fans
• “Despicable untruths” about the behaviour of fans were part of police efforts “to develop and publicise a version of events that focused on allegations of drunkenness, ticketlessness and violence”
• Police officers carried out police national computer checks on those who had died in an attempt “to impugn the reputations of the deceased”
• No evidence of any Government trying to conceal the truth
Relatives who were handed the report at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral read that police and emergency services had made “strenuous attempts” to deflect the blame for the disaster on to innocent fans.
Of 164 police reports, 116 had been “amended to remove or alter comments unfavourable to South Yorkshire Police”.
Cameron said Attorney General Dominic Grieve would review the report as quickly as possible in order to decide whether to apply to the High Court to order a new inquest.
The families of those who lost their lives have always challenged the original inquest, which concluded all the victims were dead or brain dead 15 minutes after the game had kicked off.
However, panel member Dr Bill Kirkup, associate chief medical officer in the Department of Health, said that if the emergency response had been swifter, almost half the victims could have had some chance of survival.
Local Liverpool MP Steve Rotheram said it was a “momentous day for Liverpool”.
“Finally, we have the undeniable truth,” he said.
“The truth that many innocent people could and should have been saved.
“A truth that unequivocally confirms that Liverpool fans were not the cause of the disaster and that drink was not a significant factor.”
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734782448labto1734782448ofdlr1734782448owedi1734782448sni@w1734782448ahsra1734782448w.wer1734782448dna1734782448