Families of the 96 men, women and children killed at the 1989 FA Cup semifinal at Hillsborough have finally come closer to justice for their loved ones.
Six men, including the Hillsborough match police commander, have been charged over the disaster where, 28 years ago, 95 Liverpool FC fans died in Sheffield, England. The 96th fatality occured four years later.
Match commander, former chief superintendent David Duckenfield, former chief constable Sir Norman Bettison and four others are those charged. Getting to this stage has been a long and difficult journey for the families. It was one year into the inquests, and 26 years since Mr Duckenfield took command of the semifinal between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, before he finally, devastatingly, admitted his serious failures directly caused the deaths.
From his concessions he had not enough experience to oversee the safety of 54,000 people through to finally accepting responsibility for the deaths, his admissions were shockingly complete, the Guardian reported last year.
Mr Duckenfield also admitted at the inquests, even as the event was descending into horror and death, he had infamously lied, telling Graham Kelly, then secretary of the Football Association, Liverpool fans were to blame for gaining unauthorised entry through a large exit gate.
Mr Duckenfield himself had ordered the gate to be opened, to relieve a crush in the bottleneck approach to the Leppings Lane turnstiles.
Sue Hemming, head of the special crime and counter-terrorism division, told the families of those killed that former South Yorkshire police officers Donald Denton and Alan Foster, as well as force solicitor Peter Metcalf are also charged with doing acts with intent to pervert the course of justice. Former Sheffield Wednesday secretary Graham Mackrell is charged with three offences relating to health and safety and safety at sports grounds.
The jury at the inquests last year identified errors in the police planning and response, the actions of commanding officers, the safety certification of the ground, the management of the stadium by Sheffield Wednesday FC and the response by the ambulance service. It also found there were dangerous features in the stadium design.
The original inquest in 1991 ruled the deaths were accidental. Those verdicts were quashed following an independent report concluding a major cover-up had taken place to shift the blame for the disaster on to the victims.
Families tearfully explained after Ms Hemming’s announcement they felt relief and vindication for their long campaign to find justice for the dead. Parents talked about missing their children growing up, having families and enjoying their lives — gaps which can never be filled.
It is unlikely anyone will ever understand why Mr Duckenfield and others lied for so many years, except to protect their own reputations. The office the six men held has been brought into disrepute, dragged down by the actions of the selfish.
The story the disaster should be blamed on supporters was spread throughout the fateful night by South Yorkshire police officers, including the most lurid tales that would be published by the Sun. It emerged at the inquests one of the nastiest stories of fans picking the pockets of the dead was not just untrue but that the police had evidence it was untrue from the beginning. Police had made routine logs of all the cash and property found on each person.
Finally, after years of horror, heartbreak and struggle, the families heard a jury deliver the verdict they wanted and needed.
The families were people mostly trusting of police who after their horrific loss found themselves fighting the false case put forward by the police.
Those police officers will now face the consequences of their own actions.The families were ultimately driven on by the power of human love and loyalty and the bonds of family. Reaching this point will provide some comfort but the wounds are unlikely to ever heal.
