Hillsborough

26 years on - the inquests have now reached day 164 YNWA

Today marks the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, and the last ever memorial service will be held at Anfield this afternoon. Meanwhile, the inquests into the deaths of the 96 have reached the final stages, and hopefully justice will then be served. On this special day, I'd like to share this, taken from another forum. A schoolboy holds a leather ball in a photograph on a bedroom wall the bed is made, the curtains drawn as silence greets the break of dawn. The dusk gives way to morning light revealing shades of red and white which hang from posters locked in time of the Liverpool team of 89. Upon a pale white quilted sheet a football kit is folded neat with a yellow scarf, trimmed with red and some football boots beside the bed. In hope, the room awakes each day to see the boy who used to play but once again it wakes alone for this young boy’s not coming home. Outside, the springtime fills the air the smell of life is everywhere viola’s bloom and tulips grow while daffodils dance heel to toe. These should have been such special times for a boy who’d now be in his prime but spring forever turned to grey in the Yorkshire sun, one April day. The clock was locked on 3.06 as sun shone down upon the pitch lighting up faces etched in pain as death descended on Leppings Lane. Between the bars an arm is raised amidst a human tidal wave a young hand yearning to be saved grows weak inside this deathly cage. A boy not barely in his teens is lost amongst the dying screams a body too frail to fight for breath is drowned below a sea of death His outstretched arm then disappears to signal twenty seven years of tears as 96 souls of those who fell await the toll of the justice bell. Ever since that disastrous day a vision often comes my way I reach and grab his outstretched arm then pull him up away from harm. We both embrace with tear-filled eyes I then awake to realise it’s the same old dream I have each week as I quietly cry myself to sleep. On April the 15th every year when all is calm and skies are clear beneath a glowing Yorkshire moon a lone scots piper plays a tune. The tune rings out the justice cause then blows due west across the moors it passes by the eternal flame then engulfs a young boys picture frame. His room is as it was that day for twenty seven years it’s stayed that way untouched and frozen forever in time since that tragic day in 89. And as it plays its haunting sound tears are heard from miles around they’re tears from families of those who fell awaiting the toll of the justice bell.

Beautiful, but so, so sad

Midland Red. That is one of the most touching poems I have ever read, fate can be so unkind. Thank you for the posting.

Last night ITV aired "Hillsborough: Smears, Survivors and the Search for the Truth", which revealed further cases of conspiracy and cover-up by South Yorkshire Police, and the force charged with investigating the conduct of SYP, our own West Midlands Police This is today's Liverpool Echo report, which is worthy of a read, together with the readers' comments This is not the first programme highlighting what went on post-Hillsborough - and I don't suppose for one moment it will be the last. I recall seeing in an earlier programme a SYP policewoman, who had made a written statement, saying how she had been visited by WMP and told "You weren't there!" It will be interesting to see the outcome of the ongoing IPCC Investigation

Such a sad day Cliff. I think I've mentioned here before but for the record I was at Hillsborough for the 1/4 final game in '87 vs. Wednesday (and back again for the Leeds semi.) The tragedy of that day very nearly occurred two years earlier for that game for us. We were packed in like sardines in the Leppings Lane end that day as well. I can remember barely being able to lift my arms up from my sides to celebrate one of Houchen's goals. Terrible that the dangers of those pens was never noticed and lives saved. Edited by member, 14th Dec 2016 1:09 am

West Midlands Police A senior police officer has apologised after he sparked fury by following Hillsborough family members on Twitter. The relatives accused the West Midlands Chief Inspector Jack Hadley of “intimidation”. Report in full

Hats off to a great man Hillsborough campaigner Prof Phil Scraton has turned down an OBE in the Queen's New Year Honours list. The author, who led the Hillsborough Independent Panel's research team, said he could not receive an honour in protest "at those who remained unresponsive" to help families and survivors affected by the disaster. Ninety-six people died following a crush at Hillsborough on 15 April 1989. In April, an inquest jury concluded the fans were unlawfully killed. Prof Scraton's book, Hillsborough: The Truth, is widely accepted as the definitive account of the disaster. In a statement, he said: "I researched Hillsborough from 1989, publishing reports, articles and the first edition of Hillsborough: The Truth in 1990. "Until 2009, and despite compelling evidence, successive governments declined to pursue a thorough, independent review of the context, consequences and aftermath of the disaster. "This changed as a direct result of the families' and survivors' brave, persistent campaign. "It led to the Hillsborough Independent Panel, its ground-breaking findings, new inquests and their crucially significant verdicts." Prof Scraton has previously received the Freedom of the City of Liverpool, the Political Studies Association's Campaigner of the Year Award and an Honorary Doctorate in Laws from the University of Liverpool "with gratitude and humility". But he added: "I headed the Panel's research team and was a consultant to the families' lawyers throughout the new inquests. "I could not receive an honour on the recommendation of those who remained unresponsive to the determined efforts of bereaved families and survivors to secure truth and justice." Hillsborough campaigners Margaret Aspinall and Trevor Hicks, who both lost children in the disaster at the home ground of Sheffield Wednesday, were made CBEs in 2014. Prof Scraton acknowledged his decision "might come as a disappointment to some Hillsborough families, survivors and whoever nominated me". However, he added: "Finally, I could not accept an honour tied in name to the 'British Empire'. "In my scholarship and teaching I remain a strong critic of the historical, cultural and political contexts of imperialism and their international legacy."

Report that Hillsborough suspect files have been passed to Crown Prosecution Service

On the 28th anniversary . . . "and the sun shines now" Haunting words from Peter Jones. Like many, being at Hillsborough broke him. He died just over a year later after suffering a stroke whilst covering the Boat Race.

Families of the 96 men, women & children 'unlawfully killed' 28 years ago will hear today if any criminal charges are to be brought YNWA

Six people are charged over the Hillsborough tragedy - including match commander David Duckenfield and ex-police chief Sir Norman Bettison Report

The police chief in charge at Hillsborough has received £7.6m in legal aid, it can be revealed, as he lost his latest bid for more money to fight manslaughter charges. Former Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield headed the security operation at Hillsborough in 1989 when 96 fans were crushed to death on the terraces. The retired police officer is facing charges of manslaughter by gross negligence of 95 people. He applied to South Yorkshire Police for financial assistance to help him fight the Crown Prosecution Service's application to lift a 'stay of prosecution'. But South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dr Alan Billings turned down the new application, revealing he had already received £7.6m in fees for the Hillsborough inquests and defending a private prosecution in 2000. This was put in place in place in 2000 when jurors failed to reach a verdict after a private prosecution for manslaughter, and the suspension needs to be lifted in the High Court before Duckenfield can go on trial again. Duckenfield's application also asks for cash to fund 'the cost of his defence' if the stay of prosecution is lifted. Dr Billings said: 'I have taken account of the finite resources available to South Yorkshire Police in the coming years and the impact that the decision to agree to the request could have on the budget commitments on the force.' He added: 'The jury concluded that a breach of duty by the retired officer, which amounted to gross negligence, caused the death of 96 people who died at Hillsborough. I cannot ignore that conclusion. 'I have also had regard to the fact that this retired police officer has already received significant financial support.'