AN APPLICATION to quash the discredited Hillsborough inquest verdicts will be made before Christmas.
The Attorney General Dominic Grieve told the Commons yesterday he had made "good progress" in drawing up the long-awaited application to the High Court ā a key step in the campaign for justice for the Hillsborough victims.
But Mr Grieve insisted he could not quicken a new inquest into the death of Kevin Williams, whose mum, Anne, has terminal cancer.
An online petition calling for a speedy hearing into Kevinās death yesterday reached 100,000 signatures, making it eligible for a Commons debate.
Mr Grieve acknowledged the "significant public support", but added: "The evidence that supports a new inquest into Kevin Williams' death is basically the same as that in relation to the deaths of all the other victims of Hillsborough.
"My duty is to act in the public interest of all the victims of Hillsborough. I consider that wider public interest requires a single application to be made in relation to these inquests."
Mrs Williams ā who was last month diagnosed with bowel cancer ā had previously thanked people for their āincredible supportā.
Sheile Coleman, from Hillsborough Justice Campaign, expressed sympathy with Anneās situation.
Mrs Coleman said: āThe support has given Anne such a boost. She is uplifted by it.
"She knows it may make no difference, but that said, the petition being debated cannot do any harm.ā
Mr Grieve said the application for fresh inquests was not yet ready, partly because he had consulted the families of all the 96 victims, who were given one month to respond.
He told MPs: "I expect to make that application in December. I will do all I can to take this process forward as quickly as possible."
Mr Grieve also stressed the timetable for the High Court to act was out of his hands, saying: "I obviously can't predict the timetable for the fresh inquests to take place."
And he repeated his warning that any criminal proceedings against individual police officers or organisations involved in the alleged cover-up could delay the inquests.
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