After 23 long years the truth was finally formally revealed. An inquiry from the Hillsborough Independent Panel, chaired by the Bishop of Liverpool the Rev James Jones, concluded with a comprehensive report running into several hundred pages. The report clearly outlined two key points, points the families of the deceased people and supporters of Liverpool FC had known for 23 years.
- Liverpool supporters were in no way responsible for the death of 96 of their fellow fans.
- South Yorkshire Police were responsible for one of the biggest cover ups in the history of this country as they substantially amended 116 of 164 statements they received in the wake of the tragic event.
Lies were spread by the Police about the behaviour of Liverpool fans as they attempted to pass the blame onto innocent people and a club rather than take accountability for their own inactivity – inactivity it was released today may have incredibly seen 41 of the 96 innocent dead people survive.
The torture those families have gone through should not be wished upon anyone when all sorts of lies were aimed at those innocent people from the Police force and their allies in the press, most notably the disgraceful Sun newspaper. Events have once more shown today that this publication should be withdrawn from the UK market with immediate effect due to the horrendous lies the paper and it’s odious editor of the time the loathsome Kelvin MacKenzie produced such as; “Some Fans Picked Pockets of Victims”, “Some Fans Urinated on the Brave Cops” and “Some Fans Beat Up PC Giving Kiss Of Life”. The accompanying article falsely claimed that ticketless and drunken Liverpool fans were responsible for the disaster.
We would urge all Celtic fans – if they are not doing so already – to not purchase The Sun while it is still in production and to do all they can to ensure the horrendous MacKenzie is never seen in the UK media again.
Getting back to more important matters – I watched the Hillsborough Independent Panels question and answer session with the media before different groups representing the 96 innocent people addressed the media group within Liverpool’s Anglican cathedral. They all spoke incredibly well considering the circumstances but one lady really caught my attention due to the detailed breakdown of what she’s had to do over the past 23 years to try and seek justice for her son. Her name is Anne Williams. Anne spoke clearly about the loss of her 15 year old son Kevin and the hurdles followed by brick walls she had to bypass in the disgraced British judicial system. Time after time Anne followed due process and went through formal channels only for the attorney general to refuse her plea for a judicial review time after time. Listening to Ann speak was inspirational but also emotional and I’ll hold my hands up and say I openly cried as I listened to what Ann and others have gone through. Anne’s story is captured in more detail within the Hope for Hillsborough website.
http://www.hopeforhillsborough.piczo.com/?cr=6
Liverpool FC is one of the world’s truly great clubs and the city of Liverpool one that draws many parallels with Glasgow. Tough and working class with a passion for football and humour. Good people often made an easy target by a complicit establishment media only too happy to put the boot into our two great cities that for far too long have been left to decay while prosperity shined in other ‘preferred cities’. But the people, not the size of your house, is what makes Liverpool, like Glasgow, a magical place. 96 innocent people have gone but hopefully now Liverpool fans and the families of those departed for 23 long years can now hold their heads even higher with pride having brought truth to proceedings. Full justice will soon follow.
All Celtic supporters are proud of you.
When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
Is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of the lark
Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on walk on with hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone
You’ll never walk alone
When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
Is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of the lark
Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on walk on with hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone
You’ll never walk
You’ll never walk
You’ll never walk alone.
Hear hear and Hail Hail.
Hopefully this is the beginning of as close to a new start as the families of the tragic victims can ever hope to achieve.
I have been brought up with the mentality to question anything that doesn’t sound right, and not just to tug the forelock and accept everything from a so-called ‘authority’ figure. The families of these victims have done the same and it has unbelievably taken 23 years for something remotely resembling the truth to appear. I hope the full story really does emerge now and those who took part in the cover-up and lies are taken to task under the full extent of the law.
Anyone associated with Celtic who continues to buy this asswipe of a rag deserves nothing but utter scorn too. A rag which recently took some sort of moral high ground on one of our own after protests from the great unhinged fans of TCFKARFC, not because it felt it was morally right but because they felt they might lose the last of it’s readers in Scotland! Beyond contempt.
Justice for the 96. YNWA.
Well said that Hector. Twenty three years…it is truly criminal but will anybody be done? Probably not since the Polis and bits of the media were in collusion but here’s hoping they start shitting on each other and not the victims for a change.
Sorry to comment so late after the article, Hector. I seem to be unable to get to the sites before the wee sma’ hours just now. This being Saturday and the game being on, I have made a point of logging on earlier, so here is my response.
Of course before all else, my sympathies go to all those affected by or involved in the revelations of the last few days. I have to say, without boast, I knew it was a cover up from day one. If truth plays a part in your life, you simply have gut feeling about lies and deceit. Even though there are now revelations that confirm my instincts, I am still angry because, as we all know, this corruption still controls every facet of our society. In fact, I would go as far as to say that it is the accepted practice in every government, business, religion and any other power holding organisation. Greed and influence has exterminated morality. Are the events going on in Glasgow any less corrupt? Are they any less destructive? Are they any less painful? The only non-comparison is the depth and extent of the suffering of the families and friends of those who lost their lives at Hillsborough. R.I.P to the dead and prayers for the living. Justice has been seen to be served, it would seem, but sadly, I have grave doubts that it actually has?
H H