After the verdicts Barry Devonside, who had lost his son, witnessed Popper hosting a celebration party with police officers. Fans outside could hear cheering as the teams came on the pitch ten minutes before the match started, and as the match kicked off, but could not gain entrance. Thousands of fans visited and the stadium filled with flowers, scarves and other tributes. . [206] An agreement was reached in the case in April 2021, but reporting restrictions were put in place due to the pending trial of Denton, Foster and Metcalf. [170] In early October, Bettison announced his retirement, becoming the first senior figure to step down since publication of the panel's report.[171][172][173]. The entrance had a limited number of turnstiles, of which just seven . Several British stadiums have a stand called "Spion Kop" or "The Kop". During the episode car mechanic Minty said: "Five years out of Europe because of Heysel, because they penned you lot in to stop you fighting on the pitch and then what did we end up with? [32], Meanwhile, Hillsborough was accepted as the FA Cup semi-final venue on 20 March 1989 by the Football Association. The Hillsborough disaster touched not only Liverpool, but football clubs in England and around the world. [100], The report noted that the official capacity of the central pens was 2,200, that the Health and Safety Executive found this should have been reduced to 1,693 due to crush barriers and perimeter gates,[101] but actually an estimated 3,000 people were in the pens around 3:00pm. [169] West Yorkshire Police announced it would refer its Chief Constable, Norman Bettison, to the IPCC in mid-September. A Liverpool fan who suffered life-changing injuries in the Hillsborough disaster has died. [52] In the following days more than 200,000 people visited the "shrine" inside the stadium. A police officer ordinarily made a visual assessment before guiding fans to other pens. By 22 October 2012, the names of at least 1,444 serving and former police officers had been referred to the IPCC investigation. [118], In the years after the disaster, the Hillsborough Family Support Group had campaigned for the release of all relevant documents into the public domain. 14 in the UK charts.[229]. Look down there. Shortly before kick-off, in an attempt to ease overcrowding outside the entrance turnstiles, the police match commander, David Duckenfield, ordered exit gate C to be opened, leading to an influx of supporters entering the pens. Former Chief Superintendent Duckenfield, in charge of the match, faced 95 counts of manslaughter by gross negligence. Bibliography of over 150 books, journal articles, TV programmes and websites relating to the Disaster and its aftermath produced by Sheffield City Council's Archives Service. The ceremony ended with 96 rings of church bells across the city and a rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone". "[30], Police presence at the previous year's FA Cup semi-final (also between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest and also at Hillsborough Stadium) had been overseen by Chief Superintendent Brian L. [149][150] Upon receiving the April 2016 verdict, Hillsborough Family Support Group chair Margaret Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son James was killed in the disaster, said:[151][152][153]. The lingering effects of the disaster were seen as a cause, or contributory factor, in all of these.[68]. On the day of the match, radio and television broadcasters advised fans without tickets not to attend. In 1997 Lord Justice Stuart-Smith concluded that there was no justification for a new inquiry. [241] The Sheffield Star published similar allegations to The Sun, running the headline "Fans in Drunken Attacks on Police". [294] Johnson apologised at the time of the article, travelling to Liverpool to do so,[295] and again following the publication of the report of the Hillsborough Independent Panel in 2012; Johnson's apology was rejected by Margaret Aspinall, chairperson of the Hillsborough Families Support Group, whose son James, 18, died in the disaster:[296]. I had to scream at the police officer to allow us privacy . This included the Wolverhampton-based Express & Star, which reported that the match had been cancelled as a result of a "pitch invasion in which many fans were injured". [244], In Liverpool local journalist John Williams of the Liverpool Daily Post wrote in an article titled "I Blame the Yobs"[245] that "The gatecrashers wreaked their fatal havoc Their uncontrolled fanaticism and mass hysteria literally squeezed the life out of men, women and children yobbism at its most base Scouse killed Scouse for no better reason than 22 men were kicking a ball". Hillsborough." [69] A total of 766 people were reported to have suffered injuries, among whom 300 were hospitalised. Duckenfield admitted that he had lied in certain statements regarding the causes of the disaster. His remarks led to Liverpool F.C. Hundreds of people were pressed against one another and the fencing by the weight of the crowd behind them. It was brought by police officers on duty against the chief constable who was said to have been vicariously liable for the disaster. [T]he police case was to blame the fans for being late and drunk, and to blame the Club for failing to monitor the pens. The Crown Prosecution Service subsequently dropped all charges against one of the defendants. The police were worried about fatal crushing. [302], In October 2011, Sir Oliver Popplewell, who had chaired the public inquiry into the 1985 Bradford City stadium fire at Valley Parade that killed 56 people, called on the families of the Hillsborough victims to look at the "quiet dignity and great courage relatives in the West Yorkshire city had shown in the years following the tragedy". In its announcement, the IPCC praised the tenacity of the Hillsborough families' campaign for truth and justice. "[115], The Hillsborough Independent Panel was instituted in 2009 by the British government to investigate the Hillsborough disaster, to oversee the disclosure of documents about the disaster and its aftermath and to produce a report. ", "Original 'copy' of Hillsborough story filed by White's news agency", "Hillsborough Inquests: 'Regrets' over pickpocketing claims", "Hillsborough: 20 years on, Liverpool has still not forgiven the newspaper it calls 'The Scum', "Hillsborough report: Prime Minister David Cameron's statement in full", "How the Sun's 'truth' about Hillsborough unravelled", "Hillsborough: telling the truth about the scum", "MacKenzie speaks out on Hillsborough comments", "Hillsborough: Former Sun editor apologises to Liverpool", "Liverpool Vs The Sun: How the City Rid Itself of the UK's Biggest Paper", "Liverpool's 23-year boycott of The Sun newspaper", "Sun boycott reduced Euroscepticism on Merseyside, study shows", "Hillsborough: The Sun 'profoundly sorry' over false fan conduct reports", "Newspaper review: Hillsborough 'justice' hailed, but not on Sun's front page", "News International chairman James Murdoch apologises to Liverpool over Sun's coverage of Hillsborough tragedy", "Hillsborough files: Reaction to release of government papers", "Hillsborough: Kelvin MacKenzie offers 'profuse apologies to the people of Liverpool', "Not Even The Sun Could Have Expected This Level of Anger After Hillsborough Inquest", "The Sun Relegates Hillsborough To Page 8, Outrage Ensues", "Sun and Times front pages criticised for ignoring Hillsborough verdict", "S*n and Times slammed for ignoring Hillsborough on front pages", "Hillsborough: Times admits front page 'mistake', "The Hillsborough Verdict Shows People Still Haven't Forgiven The Sun Even After 27 Years", "The S*n hides behind wall of silence after landmark Hillsborough verdicts", "Liverpool FC ban for Sun journalists over Hillsborough", "Everton join Liverpool in banning Sun journalists over coverage", "Hillsborough Inquiry: Press Release No. [15], Hillsborough Stadium had been constructed in 1899 to house Sheffield Wednesday. [58], At the 1989 FA Cup Final between Liverpool and local rivals Everton, held just five weeks after the Hillsborough disaster, the players from both participating teams wore black armbands as a gesture of respect to the victims. In July 1992, the government announced a relaxation of the regulation for the lower two English leagues (known now as League One and League Two). "[304], In 2013, a formal complaint was made against David Crompton, South Yorkshire's chief constable, over internal emails relating to the Hillsborough disaster. On 8September 2012, just four days before the Hillsborough Independent Panel Report was published, Crompton had emailed the force's assistant chief constable Andy Holt and head of media Mark Thompson. The first reading was read by Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar. A teenager who died in the Hillsborough disaster tried in vain to save her younger sister as the . Hillsborough hosted five FA Cup semi-finals in the 1980s. [119] In April 2009, the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced she had requested secret files concerning the disaster be made public.[120]. [289] As a result, Emap Australia, who owned FHM at the time, pledged to make a donation to the families of the victims. I had absolutely no reason to believe that these authority figures would lie and deceive over such a disaster. The anniversary was also marked by a minute's silence at the weekend's league games and FA Cup semi-finals. The jury saw CCTV images of the girls and their father going through the turnstiles at 13:53. The police became a convenient scapegoat, and the Sun newspaper a whipping-boy for daring, albeit in a tasteless fashion, to hint at the wider causes of the incident. Candles were lit for each of the 96 people who died. I too was totally misled. I bent down to kiss and talk to [my son] and as we stood up there was a policeman who came from behind me . The report said "When spectators first appeared on the track, the immediate assumption in the control room was that a pitch invasion was threatened. [29] Leeds were assigned the Leppings Lane end. A total of 42 ambulances arrived at the stadium. The system of ferrying injured from any location within the stadium to the CRP required a formal declaration to be made by those in charge for it to take effect. [46]:149, The adverse comments of two doctors regarding the emergency response appeared in the media. In 2014, to mark the 25th anniversary of the disaster, the FA decided that all FA Cup, Premier League, Football League, and Football Conference matches played between 1114 April would kick-off seven minutes later than originally scheduled with a six-minute delay and a one-minute silence tribute.[218]. [12], The second coroner's inquests were held from 1 April 2014 to 26 April 2016. THE HILLSBOROUGH STADIUM DISASTER 15 APRIL 1989 INQUIRY BY THE RT HON LORD JUSTICE TAYLOR INTERIM REPORT Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for the Home Department by Command of Her Majesty August 1989 LONDON HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE CONTENTS This work is licensed under the United Kingdom Open Government Licence v1.0 . [243], On 19 April, four days after the disaster, Kelvin MacKenzie, editor of The Sun, ordered "The Truth" as the front-page headline, followed by three sub-headlines: "Some fans picked pockets of victims", "Some fans urinated on the brave cops" and "Some fans beat up PC giving kiss of life". [163] Coroner Sir John Goldring warned the jury that there was "not a shred of evidence" that any Masonic meeting actually took place, or that those named were all Freemasons,[164] advising the jury to cast aside "gossip and hearsay". Holes in the perimeter fencing were made by fans desperately attempting to rescue others. The safety certificate was never renewed and the stated capacity of the stadium was never changed. [316], In March 2018, British clothing retailer Topman marketed a T-shirt which was interpreted by members of the public, including relatives of Hillsborough victims, as mocking the disaster. The 10th and 20th anniversaries were marked by special services to remember the victims.[214][215]. A terrible crowd crush claimed the lives of 96 innocen. That was after the IPCC's Hillsborough Contact team had received 230 pieces of correspondence since October 2012. [257] In 1993, he told a House of Commons committee, "I regret Hillsborough. A member of the Hillsborough Families Support Group responded "too little, too late". Turnstiles numbered 1 to 10, ten in all, provided access to 9,700 seats in the North Stand; a further six turnstiles (numbered 11 to 16) provided access to 4,456 seats in the upper tier of the West Stand. The death of two witnesses and contradictions in the evidence of others were cited as part of the reason for the decision. The jury found they did not contribute to the danger unfolding at the turnstiles at the Leppings. [261][262] The Financial Times reported in 2019 that Merseyside sales were estimated to drop from 55,000 per day to 12,000 per day, an 80% decrease. [57], UEFA President Jacques Georges caused controversy by describing the Liverpool supporters as "beasts",[58] wrongly suggesting that hooliganism was the cause of the disaster, which had occurred less than four years after the Heysel Stadium disaster. [236], On 30 April 1989, a friendly match organised by Celtic F.C. Hon. [154], Prime Minister David Cameron also responded to the April 2016 verdict by saying that it represented a "long overdue" but "landmark moment in the quest for justice", adding "All families and survivors now have official confirmation of what they always knew was the case, that the Liverpool fans were utterly blameless in the disaster that unfolded at Hillsborough. The error staring them in the face was too glaring. About sharing . The memorial service, led by the Bishop of Liverpool began at 14:45 BST and a two-minute silence (observed across Liverpool and in Sheffield and Nottingham, including public transport coming to a stand-still)[224][225] was held at the time of the disaster twenty years earlier, 15:06 BST. Rather than establishing crowd safety as their top priority, the clubs, local authorities and police viewed their roles and responsibilities through the 'lens of hooliganism'. Duckenfield took medical retirement on a full police pension. [226] The ceremony was attended by survivors of the disaster, families of victims and the Liverpool team, with goalkeeper Pepe Reina leading the team and management staff onto the pitch. [219] A candle was lit for each of the 96 victims. South Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service, Alcock v Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police, White v Chief Constable of the South Yorkshire Police, Champions League quarter-finals return leg, Coverage of the Hillsborough disaster by The Sun, South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, List of disasters in Great Britain and Ireland by death toll, "Five Hillsborough myths dispelled by inquests jury", "1989: Football fans crushed at Hillsborough", "Liverpool fan's death ruled as 97th of Hillsborough disaster", "Hillsborough Disaster: From tragedy to truth", "The legacy of Hillsborough how football has changed", "Out of the ashes of Hillsborough, modern football was born", "High court quashes Hillsborough inquest verdicts", "Not 'justice' but full truth may finally be possible for Hillsborough victims", "Hillsborough papers: Cameron apology over 'double injustice', "Hillsborough disaster: David Cameron apologises for 'double injustice', "Hillsborough inquests jury rules 96 victims were unlawfully killed", "South Yorkshire police chief suspended after Hillsborough verdict", "The great betrayal: how the Hillsborough families were failed by the justice system", "Five Hillsborough Myths Dispelled by Inquests Jury", "Before Hillsborough fans were seen as terrace fodder. Perimeter and lateral fencing was removed and many top stadiums were converted to all-seated. [13][1][4][254] The Guardian later wrote that "The claim that supporters higher up the Leppings Lane terrace had urinated on police pulling bodies out of the crush appeared to have roots in the fact that those who were dying or sustaining serious injuries suffered compression asphyxia and many involuntarily urinated, vomited and emptied their bowels as they were crushed. Hillsborough remains the worst disaster in British sporting history On a sunny spring afternoon in 1989, a crush developed at the Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield resulting in the deaths of. Kick-off was scheduled for 3:00pm on 15 April, and fans were advised to take up positions 15 minutes beforehand. was played at Celtic Park, Glasgow, between the home club and Liverpool. In the following days and weeks, South Yorkshire Police (SYP) fed the press false stories suggesting that football hooliganism and drunkenness by Liverpool supporters had caused the disaster. [37], The report dismissed the theory, put forward by South Yorkshire Police, that fans attempting to gain entry without tickets or with forged tickets were contributing factors. All five were bailed to appear at the Crown Court in September. [148] The jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing in respect of all 96 victims (by majority verdict of 72). The remaining 14 victims lived in other parts of England. The editor at the time, Dominic Mohan, wrote: "We published an inaccurate and offensive story about the events at Hillsborough. [90], Ashton and Phillips were not the only doctors present at the disaster not to be called to give evidence to the Popper inquests. South Yorkshire's police and crime commissioner Shaun Wright appointed chief constable Simon Parr of Cambridgeshire Constabulary to head an investigation into the matter. Speaking after the disaster, Kelly backed all-seater stadiums, saying "We must move fans away from the ritual of standing on terraces". [46]:138140 Others who did leave their vehicles were then faced with the obstacles inherent in placing distance between themselves and their equipment. A boycott of advertisers by American Liverpool fans eventually brought about an apology from him. An eight-foot-high clock, dating from the 1780s, was installed at, A memorial plaque dedicated to the 96 at Goodison Park in Liverpool, home of local rivals. [4] In 2009 a Hillsborough Independent Panel was formed to review the evidence. [39] The police at first attempted to stop fans from spilling out of the pens, some believing this to be a pitch invasion. "[255], In their history of The Sun, Peter Chippendale and Chris Horrie wrote:[256]. A third legal case which resulted from the Hillsborough disaster was Airedale N.H.S. [272], The coverage was widely condemned on social media, with Twitter users saying that this reflected "Murdoch's view on Hillsborough", which was a "smear", which "now daren't speak its name". 15 April 1989. [301] Leeds United chairman Ken Bates endorsed this call in the club programme and stated, "Leeds have suffered at times with reference to Galatasaray; some of our so-called fans have also been guilty as well, particularly in relation to Munich." The event also raised cash for the Marina Dalglish Appeal which was contributed towards a radiotherapy centre at University Hospital in Aintree.[230][231]. [166][167][168], Following the inquests verdicts, South Yorkshire police announced it would refer the actions of its officers to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). [159], Kelvin MacKenzie, who wrote the now-infamous "The Truth" front page for the Sun, said that although he was "duped" into publishing his story, that his "heart goes out" to the families of those affected, saying that "It's quite clear today the fans had nothing to do with it". The reason given was that the public inquiry in 1990, to which the altered statements were submitted, was not a statutory inquiry, and therefore not a Court of Law. The cast included Christopher Eccleston, Annabelle Apsion, Ricky Tomlinson and Mark Womack. Ruling on Submissions of No Case to Answer", "Lack of Hillsborough accountability is a scandal, says minister", "Hillsborough families attack 'ludicrous' acquittals of police", "Hillsborough families to sue police for 'abuse on industrial scale', "Hillsborough: Police forces agree cover-up compensation for victims", "Hillsborough memorial returns to Anfield", "Anfield memorial updated in honour of 97th victim of Hillsborough", "Hillsborough memorial clock unveiled at Liverpool Town Hall", "Everton FC to unveil tribute to Hillsborough 96 ahead of Merseyside derby", "Uefa to help Liverpool avoid Hillsborough clash", "Anfield's Hillsborough memorial service to be held for last time in April", "Football to remember Hillsborough disaster", "A minute's silence to remember Hillsborough", "Liverpool avoid Hillsborough anniversary clash", "Thousands flock to Anfield as Liverpool marks 20th anniversary of Hillsborough", "Hundreds mark Hillsborough anniversary in city", "Giggs showed that even in a cash-conscious age the game has moments which defy evaluation", "Milan vs Real Madrid Fans Sing You'll Never Walk Alone", "MP's tearful tribute to Hillsborough 96", "Hillsborough debate full transcript: Read everything MPs said in the House of Commons link to full video now added", "Hillsborough: 97th victim's family 'proud' of Freedom of Liverpool award", "Chapter 12: Behind the headlines: the origins, promotion and reproduction of unsubstantiated allegations (Page 3 of 10): 'The Truth', "The Immediate Aftermath The Media Reaction Hillsborough Football Disaster", "Is it time to forgive and forget Kelvin Mackenzie and the Sun over the lies they told about Hillsborough? issued a ban on The Sun journalists from entering their grounds in response to the coverage of Hillsborough by the newspaper. He later apologised and said "I know that fan unrest played no part in the terrible events of April 1989 and I apologise to Liverpool fans and the families of those killed and injured in the Hillsborough disaster if my comments caused any offence." [314][315] On the day of the inquest verdict, Ingham refused to apologise or respond to the previous comments he made, telling a reporter, "I have nothing to say. However, MacKenzie did not accept any personal responsibility for the story. [18], A report by Eastwood & Partners for a safety certificate for the stadium in 1978 concluded that although it failed to meet the recommendations of the Green Guide, a guide to safety at sports grounds, the consequences were minor. At the rescheduled fixture, Arsenal players brought flowers onto the pitch and presented them to the Liverpool fans around the stadium before the game commenced. Other messages came from Pope John Paul II, US President George H. W. Bush, and the chief executive of Juventus (fans of Liverpool and Juventus had been involved in the Heysel Stadium disaster) amongst many others. The tragedy was largely attributed to mistakes made by the police. Liverpool is a handsome city with a tribal sense of community. Hooliganism had affected the sport for some years and was particularly virulent in England. It was held that claimants who watched the disaster on television/listened on radio were not 'proximal' and their claims were rejected. I was not sorry then and I'm not sorry now". Match commander Duckenfield decided to open a gate into the stadium to alleviate pressure at the turnstiles . [46]:137,138 As this declaration was not immediately performed, confusion reigned over those attempting to administer aid on the pitch. Human crush during the 1989 FA Cup semi-final. [267], James Murdoch made a full apology for The Sun's coverage when he appeared at a hearing of the House of Commons Select committee dealing with the News International phone hacking scandal in 2012. [132] They also called for prosecutions for unlawful killing, corporate manslaughter and perversion of the course of justice in respect of the actions of the police both in causing the disaster and covering up their actions; and in respect of Sheffield Wednesday FC, Sheffield Council and the Football Association for their various responsibilities for providing, certifying and selecting the stadium for the fatal event. [323][324], As the documentary included previously unreleased security camera footage from the stadium on the day of the disaster, it could not be shown in the UK upon initial release due to the 2012 High Court inquest still being in progress. Is there, perhaps, a lesson there for the Hillsborough campaigners? Several campaigns have attempted to get the government to relax the regulation and allow standing areas to return to Premiership and Championship grounds. [191], On 9 August 2017, all except Duckenfield appeared at Warrington Magistrates Court. Former Sheffield Wednesday F.C. [126][127], The panel noted that, despite being dismissed by the Taylor Report, the idea that alcohol contributed to the disaster proved remarkably durable. [138] The Home Secretary called for investigations into law-breaking and promised resources to investigate individual or systematic issues. [95], Taylor found there was "no provision" for controlling the entry of spectators into the turnstile area. (Everyone in the office) seemed paralysed"looking like rabbits in the headlights"as one hack described them. By the time the appeal closed in 1990, it had raised more than 12million. [246] These media reports and others were examined during the 2012 Hillsborough Independent Panel report. Hillsborough disaster, incident in which a crush of football (soccer) fans ultimately resulted in 97 deaths and hundreds of injuries. Peter Caton 2012. This article was presumably published before there were any reports that people had been killed. followed in April 2017 on the eve of the 28th anniversary of the disaster after a column by Kelvin MacKenzie concerning Everton footballer Ross Barkley. Of those who died, 79 were aged under 30, 38 of whom were under 20, and all but three of the victims were aged under 50. Andrew Devine, 55, died on Tuesday, his family said in a statement released by Liverpool FC. [16], At the time of the disaster most English football stadiums had high steel fencing between the spectators and the playing field in response to pitch invasions. "[285], The Times was the only major UK newspaper not to give the story front-page coverage other than fellow News UK-owned Sun. It emphasised the general situation at Hillsborough was satisfactory compared with most grounds. He said that he 'could not fathom why he didn't call us, other than he specifically did not want to hear our evidence, in which case the first inquests were coloured and flawed before they even started'. The referee blew his whistle two minutes into the game to stop play and a minute's silence was held for those who lost their lives at Hillsborough. [247], The information was provided to the newspaper by Whites News Agency in Sheffield;[248] the newspaper cited claims by police inspector Gordon Sykes, that Liverpool fans had pickpocketed the dead,[249] as well as other claims by unnamed police officers and local Conservative MP Irvine Patnick. This game was Liverpool's first appearance on the football field since the disaster two weeks earlier. Why are we treated like animals?' The Hillsborough memorial at Anfield (featuring the names of the 96 who lost their lives, and an eternal flame) was located next to the Shankly Gates before it was moved to the front of the redeveloped main stand in 2016. [66][67], By the disaster's 10th anniversary in 1999, at least three people who survived were known to have taken their own lives. [24][25] The incident nonetheless prompted Sheffield Wednesday to alter the layout at the Leppings Lane end, dividing the terrace into three separate pens to restrict sideways movement. [64], In May 1989, a charity version of the Gerry and the Pacemakers song "Ferry Cross the Mersey" was released in aid of those affected. [63] Much of the money went to victims and relatives of those involved in the disaster and provided funds for a college course to improve the hospital phase of emergency care.