[BBC] Fans march for Hillsborough probe

Fans march for Hillsborough probe

Five families who lost their loved ones in the Hillsborough disaster hand in a 40,000-signature petition to 10 Downing Street.

Fans march for Hillsborough probe

Five families who lost their loved ones in the Hillsborough disaster have handed in a 40,000-signature petition to 10 Downing Street.

Joined by more than 4,000 supporters, they marched through the streets of London to demand further investigation into the events of 15 April 1989.

Jenny Hicks, who lost her two daughters in the tragedy, said it was time that "someone took responsibility".

The petition was handed in just after 1430 BST on Saturday.

Barry Thompson, chair of March4Justice which organised the event, said: "There were some very emotional scenes, especially when the families gave the boxes of petitions in to 10 Downing Street.

"We have had so much support from people in Liverpool, the UK and we have also have 480 letters of support from 67 different countries worldwide.

"Those who lost their loved ones said it was a positive thing handing in papers showing so much support for their plight.

"We gathered 40,000 signatures in just seven weeks, it has been a mad time.

"Let's just hope this encourages the government to realise its obligation to the families of the 96, the fans, the club and the city [Liverpool] as a whole."

The campaigners also want the release of some 300 boxes of information about the tragedy.

Ms Hicks added: "This march helped increase the pressure on the government to take some action.

"We were shocked and delighted when it was agreed that the documents should be released but we don't want to be waiting for years, we have already had to wait two decades.

"At the moment it's a waiting game, we just hope this march will have helped make a difference."

Crushed to death

The marchers also want any new investigation to recognise that not all the victims had died by 1515 BST on the day of the disaster.

It was the cut-off time imposed during the original inquest into the deaths.

Earlier this year, former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith asked South Yorkshire Police to release the 300 boxes of information it holds.

And calls for a further investigation were backed by former Culture Secretary Andy Burnham.

The 96 fans were crushed to death in the Leppings Lane end of the Sheffield stadium during Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final with Nottingham Forest.

South Yorkshire Police opened a large exit gate which forced too many Liverpool fans on to the terrace, leaving the fans inside trapped between people entering the ground and the metal fences at the front of the stand.

Families of the victims have continued a two-decade long campaign for a full inquiry into the disaster.

Well played to all those who got down there today.

Well done to the boys [AND  GIRLS] who attended the march, this is when we make an impact , when we stick together as a show of solidarity and strength. We should all do the same against them yank tw*ts.

Well done to everyone who organised and attended this march. Shame I couldn't be there today, I would have liked to have gone.

Well done to everyone. Was thinking about them this morning. The fight goes on.

Report coming up on Sky News within the next 15 mins.

Looked good too, plenty of scarves and banners.

Excellent stuff from all those who were present.

Nice to see this is getting the right kind of media attention.

Excellent stuff from all those who were present.

Nice to see this is getting the right kind of media attention.

The story is both on Sky News and SSN, anyone seen anything on either the BBC News or the ITV News, just wondering if they are going to show anything.

Seen it on Sky Sports News, good its getting media attention, hopefully now we can take a step forward!

Well done to everyone who marched. Yet again demonstrating the solidarity of Liverpool fans, lets do the same next season to keep pressure on the Yanks to f*ck off.

been a really good level of media covergage. BBC as always has been good, plus ITV news and radio news.

great decision to make this on a saturday (slow news day), and raise media interest when it had been fading because of the end of the football season.

its all about momentum, and for the first time in 15 years, i could actually see criminal convictions being forced.

needless to say those there today a real credit to the city and club.

Some pics from yesterday's march:

Some good pictures there Huyton mate.

In the one with the girl in the away grey shirt and the number 1 - is that fella in a Portsmouth shirt? If it is, it shows that it's not just fans of our own club who feel strongly about this.

Some good pictures there Huyton mate.

In the one with the girl in the away grey shirt and the number 1 - is that fella in a Portsmouth shirt? If it is, it shows that it's not just fans of our own club who feel strongly about this.

Thought it was a Cardiff shirt myself!

Read one of the other threads where someone who went down said they were getting signatures off locals down there.

Well done to everyone who went down there.

Hopefully justice is coming.

Thought it was a Cardiff shirt myself!

Read one of the other threads where someone who went down said they were getting signatures off locals down there.

That's fantastic to see that so many people are behind the idea. Hopefully something will get done about this now and because of the peaceful nature of the protest, it should be taken seriously.

Some good pictures there Huyton mate.

In the one with the girl in the away grey shirt and the number 1 - is that fella in a Portsmouth shirt? If it is, it shows that it's not just fans of our own club who feel strongly about this.

In the fourth pic you can see a lad in a Wolves shirt. Great to see.

Great pics Huyton mate.

In the fourth pic you can see a lad in a Wolves shirt. Great to see.

Great pics Huyton mate.

There not mine, found them on another site and decided to share.

In the fourth pic you can see a lad in a Wolves shirt. Great to see.

Great pics Huyton mate.

A couple of Everton shirts in there, too.

Well done to all, regardless of their respective club. A march of defiance.

In the fourth pic you can see a lad in a Wolves shirt. Great to see.

Great pics Huyton mate.

Yeah mate, in front of an Everton shirt as well which just proves even furhter that some of their fans can put rivalry to one side in situations like this.