http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/JusticeForThe96/ A NEW e-petition in Tony Blair's in-tray is demanding a public inquiry into the Hillsborough disaster.Tabled on Friday by Reds fan Richard Buxton, it has already gathered more than 600 sig-natures.
He said: “Thousands of campaigners the world over, as well as the families of the victims, will not rest until the real culprits are revealed in a fresh public inquiry and then taken to task.”
On April 15, 1989, 96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death on the Leppings Lane terrace at Hillsborough stad-ium, Sheffield, during an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.
An inquest declared no-one responsible for their deaths and the subsequent inquiry by Lord Justice Taylor decided against prosecuting police officers or stewards but resulted in the introduction of all-seater stadia for top clubs.
A civil prosecution for manslaughter taken by the Hillsborough families in 2000 against two senior officers failed and a judge blocked a retrial.
Since then numerous appeals for a further investig-ation have been turned down by successive governments despite claims of a cover-up.
Downing Street said that the prime minister “takes ser-iously” those voters who make the effort to express their views on his website.
But Walton MP Peter Kilfoyle, whose constituency includes Anfield, warned that the e-petition could cause more pain for the families.
He said: “I don't know what it would serve to do. There is a difference between having inquiry after inquiry and obtaining justice.
“The families felt that prosecutions would give them closure. My fear now is that another inquiry would only open up many of the old wounds.”
The move follows the 45,000 people – enough to fill Anfield – who in the month up to last week signed up to a call to give a posthumous knighthood to legendary Reds manager Bob Paisley.
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/JusticeForThe96/ SIGNED !!!!
« Last Edit: Mar 24, 2007 09:36:23 pm by koolkidda »
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