Hillsborough files to be reopened?

Just saw this on BBC News website:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/8006744.stm#


Hillsborough files may be opened

Secret files on the Hillsborough disaster could be made public 10 years early after a request from the home secretary.

Jacqui Smith has asked South Yorkshire Police to release the documents, which contain detailed evidence of what happened during the tragedy in 1989.

It could help families of the 96 victims who want a new inquiry.

Ms Smith has met South Yorkshire Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes to discuss the records.

Inquest ruling

The files contain evidence from the police, local council and the ambulance service. Documents like this are usually not made public for 30 years, but the home secretary has intervened two decades after the disaster.

Evidence was examined during the original inquest, in which the coroner ruled all victims had sustained their fatal injuries by 1515 BST, based on advice from pathologists.

As a result, he did not hear any evidence of what happened after that point - but many bereaved families believe their loved ones could have still been alive and they want a fresh inquiry.

Culture secretary Andy Burnham was heckled as campaigners shouted "Justice for the 96" at the Hillsborough memorial service on Wednesday.

Following the service, he called for "full disclosure" of all evidence on the Hillsborough disaster.

This is a welcome piece of news. 150 MP's have joined the Mirror Campaign. Shay posted this link elsewhere (on the Sticky: Petition Thread) but here it is again:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/04/18/150-mps-join-the-daily-mirror-s-justice-for-the-96-campaign-115875-21286338/


Every member of this site should sign the petition  http://www.lfcreds.com/reds/index.php?topic=16456.0  and send it to as many people as possible; in our own small way, we can help in the fight for Justice for the 96 who lost their lives and for those who mourn them, family, friends and fellow fans.

YNWA

Yeah, seen this on the news earlier. The talk of it has been gathering momentum since last week and it's good to hear Jacqui Smith has asked for the documents to be released now.

As for the part where it says she has met the chief constable to 'discuss' the records though, there should be little or no discussion about it.

Release the documents and let's see a fresh, fair inquiry.

Just seen this on Sky News, saying the files WILL be released...

Hillsborough 'Secret Files' To Be Revealed

Hundreds of previously unseen files about Britain's deadliest sporting tragedy - Hillsborough - are to be released by police.

Ninety-six Liverpool fans died in a crush at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium on 15 April, 1989 in an FA Cup semi final.

After the 20th anniversary of the tragedy last week, Culture Secretary Andy Burnham promised to look at suspending 30-year secrecy rules into official documents.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith met South Yorkshire's chief constable Meredydd Hughes to discuss the matter and her request has been accepted.

Families of the victims, who have repeatedly asked for the documents to be made public and long campaigned for a fresh inquiry, welcomed the news.

Survivor Andy McGrath told Sky News: "I'm cautious about it because we have seen these chinks of light before but this time there does seem to be a different attitude among many people."

"I was in the crowd when Andy Burnham was heckled on Wednesday, that was just because people are so passionate about it, if something comes from what he has done then he should get full credit."

The files the families are desperate to see include statements taken from ambulance drivers on the day.

Only one ambulance made it onto the pitch while others were lined up outside the ground after police told them they could not go in because the fans were fighting.

In fact almost 100 fans were being crushed to death, many more were injured. The one ambulance was unable to cope with so many requests for help.

Other documents still not seen include original police statements and accounts from staff at Sheffield Wednesday, the club hosting the match that day between Liverpool and Nottigham Forest.

The families are also keen to see the minutes of a meeting between then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and senior police officers which they say took place on the morning after the disaster.

If the documents are released it is likely to intensify calls in Liverpool for a fresh inquiry, for the families it would be a big step towards closure after two decades of hurt.

Sky News link

Let's hope a new, fair, unbiased inquiry comes as a result. It's taken 20 years, but the fight goes on.

Nice one Gow - I've stuck the article in for you mate.

Small step, but as Andy McGrath says in that article, hopefully the attitude is different among certain people. And that this can lead to something positive for the families and survivors.

Just seen the news, wonder if files will be sanitised tho

I wonder if all the files are still there!

Just seen the news, wonder if files will be sanitised tho

That's what worries me.

Just been reading the report on the Virgin Media site; I can't believe the some of the sick comments I've read there - some people have no idea what they're talking about.    http://latestnews.virginmedia.com/news/uk/2009/04/19/hillsborough_dossier_to_be_released

I wonder if all the files are still there!

If they are, you can bet some of them will have been 'tampered' with 

If they are, you can bet some of them will have been 'tampered' with 

Going on their previous history, I'd say shredded or torched.

Going on their previous history, I'd say shredded or torched.

Most probably........some will definitely have gone walkabouts.....they'll find a way to cover it up 

Well it's up to us to keep the pressure on

sign it but don't forget the activation email, tell all your friends....

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/lfcdisaster/

Signed it, mum and sister signed it too, lets hope justice comes out of this

Thanks, tell all your friends...now is the time for the truth to be told !!!!!!!

PM PROMISES HILLSBOROUGH HELP

James Carroll 22 April 2009

   Prime Minister Gordon Brown today confirmed the government are ready to explore means of disclosing official documents relating to the Hillsborough disaster.
South Yorkshire Police said earlier this week they would be prepared to release around 300 boxes of material regarding the tragedy if able to do so.
 
Now the Prime Minister has pledged to do his best to help the families affected by the disaster.
 
Asked during Prime Minister's Question Time whether official documents - not just police files, but also health and government records - would be released, Mr Brown replied: "96 people lost their lives on that day and the inquiry found that action had to be taken so that something like this would never happen again.
 
"I can well understand that, even after all these years, the feelings of the families are such that they want to be sure that everything possible was done, and so yes, we will look at how we can release whatever information is available to the families.
 
"I have to say that the Taylor Report was a very full inquiry, and there was then a further report after 1997 to at what may be necessary to do in addition.
 
"But if this is a means by which we can help the families in difficult times, even after these years, we will look very carefully at what we can do."

Let's just hope all these promises of re-opening files etc finally comes to fruition.

Well like i said , they covered it up for 20 years and i just don't trust them at all, so still keep getting signatures please people....

please sign this petition but don't for get you activation email too....

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/lfcdisaster/

Signatures: 8,016

Access to Hillsborough secret papers getting closer

Exclusive By Brian Reade 23/07/2009



The Hillsborough Families could finally get access to 2,000 secret papers in their fight for justice.

They are to meet Home Secretary Alan Johnson on Tuesday to discuss the release of documents relating to how 96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death in the 1989 stadium disaster.

It is the families’ first major meeting with Cabinet ministers since being refused a fresh inquiry 11 years ago.

A team including Mr Johnson and  Justice Minister Jack Straw have been discussing how to release the files. It is believed the documents – disclosed 10 years early after the Government relaxed its 30-year secrecy rule – will be given to a panel of experts within two months.

Trevor Hicks, from the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said: “There seems a genuine will to move the matter forward.” Margaret Aspinall, Jenni Hicks and Pat Joynes – who lost children in British sport’s worst disaster – will join the meeting. It could take up to two years to study the files and produce a report.

Andy Burnham, who in his former role as Culture Minister was heckled by the Anfield Kop during the 20th anniversary service in April, said: “We cannot guarantee justice but we may be able to deliver the truth.”


http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/07/23/access-to-hillsborough-secret-papers-getting-closer-115875-21540708/

Sporting Life:  Wednesday July 29th 2009....



Home Secretary Alan Johnson has agreed to release previously unseen documents relating to the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, his office confirmed on Wednesday.

Mr Johnson told the mothers of three of the 96 victims of his decision at a face-to-face meeting in London on Tuesday.

The release of the documents, in cooperation with South Yorkshire Police, will be co-ordinated by The Hillsborough Independent Panel, which is to be set up in the coming weeks.

The panel could start sifting through the paperwork as early as September.

The Home Office said the documents would be made available to the families before they are made public because they many contain sensitive and personal information about the last minutes of the victims' lives.

A Home Office spokesman said: "Hillsborough was a terrible tragedy and the Government is committed to full disclosure of information held centrally and by local agencies in order to help provide a permanent record of documentation relating to the tragedy.

"This will be done in close co-operation with South Yorkshire Police.

"The Home Secretary, together with Health Secretary Andy Burnham and justice minister Michael Wills, have had a useful and productive meeting with the Hillsborough Family Support Group to explore options that will enable them to have access to all relevant papers.

"The Government's intention is to appoint an independent panel, 'The Hillsborough Independent Panel', to oversee release of this information.

"Disclosure will take into account the wishes of the families to protect sensitive and personal information about the victims.

"With this in mind, the Government will seek to ensure that representatives of the Hillsborough families will have prior disclosure of documents on an agreed timescale before they are made more widely available.

"The Government will continue to work with the families to complete this work."

and          the BBC.CO.UK.    29/7/2009.




Families who lost their loved ones in the Hillsborough disaster have renewed hope of a full disclosure after a meeting with the Home Secretary.

Alan Johnson promised the Hillsborough Support Group that documents relating to the 1989 tragedy would be released in the next three months.

The papers, containing evidence from all authorities involved in the 1989 tragedy, will not have any redactions.

A spokesman said the Home Office was committed to "a full disclosure".

Margaret Aspinall, whose son was among the 96 who died in the disaster, said: "We are all so tired, we have waited 20 years for this.

"The meeting did go well and we felt like we were getting somewhere, we feel like we do have the support of both the home secretary and Andy Burnham, the health secretary.



"We would not have achieved so much if it had not been for the support of the people of Merseyside and the country shouting for justice for the 96."

Professor Phil Scraton, author of Hillsborough: The Truth, has been chosen by the families to represent them on a five-person panel which will review the documents when they are released.

Mrs Aspinall said the families had chosen the professor because he "was the only one we trust".



They want a new investigation to recognise that not all the victims had died by 1515 BST on the day of the disaster and to re-examine the actions of the police and the emergency services.

After the panel has seen the documents, the files will be sent to the families before being put in the public domain.

"We just want the truth so we can stop fighting, for all the people who have supported us, and so our sons, daughters, loved ones can finally rest in peace," Mrs Aspinall added.

A Home Office spokesman said: "We are committed to a full disclosure of the documents held both centrally and locally.

"This will be done in close co-operation with South Yorkshire Police.

"Our intention is to appoint an independent panel, 'the Hillsborough Independent Panel', to oversee release of this information."

About f*cking time!

Hopefully some of the families can get some closure and more of the truth can come out.

Fingers crossed ! but somehow I think there will still be unanswered questions to the most sensitive issues, it will just be another cover up !

About Time  96

Im quite surprised these files have still to be made public. Its been 4 months since this was announced

Typical, isnt it?

They are too busy finding new hiding places for all the incriminating files!

The sooner the better imo. I lost a cousin in it and it was f**king awful for the family.

Independent panel on release of Liverpool FC Hillsborough files to be set up within two weeks

Oct 20 2009  by Ian Hernon, Liverpool Echo

AN INDEPENDENT panel charged with releasing the Hillsborough files will be up and running by the end of next week.

The actual publication could then be within weeks, according to Whitehall sources.

But ministers will again come under fire for further delays following the decision last June to lift the 30-year secrecy rule covering files relevant to the 1989 disaster in which 96 Reds fans died.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham who, as Sports Secretary was barracked at Anfield, said: “It is a hugely complicated process and we want to get it right.

“We have been taking very careful steps because this is an unprecedented situation.

“I am very confident that we are getting very close to full disclosure.

“We have dotted the ‘i’s and the ‘t’s are being crossed.”

The new panel, likely to be chaired by a senior judge or former law officer, will decide exactly how an estimated 20,000 documents will be released.

Mr Burnham added: “We have been working very carefully through the detail and we have been working with the families to ensure we get it right.”

Deliberations so far have included legal technicalities, the possibility of material being used in court, and the permanent archiving of the files.

Mr Burnham’s Health Department has been involved, alongside Jack Straw’s justice ministry, the Attorney-General’s office, the Home Office and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

The panel will also consider whether the files, once released, will justify a full public inquiry.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson has already agreed that it is “high time” that uncertainties suffered by families of the victims are brought to an end.

When he took over in June his predecessor, Jacqui Smith, had already agreed in principle to lift the secrecy over Whitehall, police and council papers.

Halton MP Derek Twigg, who told the Prime Minister that the handling of the disaster and its aftermath was a disgrace, said: “We are assured that the new panel is ready to go but I am concerned that it will be months rather than weeks before publication, there is a lot of material to get through.

“The families have been waiting for the truth for far too long and we have to get it out in the public domain as quickly as possible.”


http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2009/10/20/independent-panel-on-release-of-liverpool-fc-hillsborough-files-to-be-set-up-within-two-weeks-100252-24968345/

I'm not really sure what is to decide - open the files and show the world that the police fu**ed up and cost 96 innocents their lives.

Then make that c**t MacKenzie grovel an apology in front of the Kop, full of the victims' families.

Once The Truth is finally revealed then what?

Does Duckenfield go down?

Does Mackenzie get sued for libel?

Once The Truth is finally revealed then what?

Does Duckenfield go down?

Does Mackenzie get sued for libel?

Got a feeling Duckinfield is dead, mate.

MacKenzie wants locking in a room with a couple of LFC fans and a hammer and nails.  I'll volunteer.

It's just been on Look North, that adverts are going to appear in national newspapers to recruit a team of archivists to catalogue an estimated half a million documents

Got a feeling Duckinfield is dead, mate.

Living in retirement on his full pension close to Bournemouth.

Its just been on the radio that the files are to be re-opened ! B.B.C. radio 2 news.

fingers crossed for the truth (again).

Bishop of Liverpool James Jones will lead Hillsborough files release panel

Dec 15 2009  EXCLUSIVE by Luke Traynor, Liverpool Echo

THE Bishop of Liverpool will today be officially unveiled as the head of the panel behind the release of the hidden Hillsborough files.

The Right Reverend James Jones will take charge of the five-strong committee responsible for making public up to two million documents about the 1989 tragedy for the first time.

He was hand picked by government bosses who were keen to have someone representing the city at the forefront of the disclosure.

The announcement was being made this morning in the House of Commons on behalf of the Home Secretary Alan Johnson.

Also being revealed were the unique Terms of Reference governing the legalities of the panel and exactly how it will operate.

The ECHO understands Westminster was impressed with the Bishop’s involvement in the recent case of jailed Liverpool fan Michael Shields.

The 61-year-old father-of-three is said to be looking forward to the role and considers the invitation to be part of his wider pastoral duties.

The remaining four members of the panel are yet to be officially confirmed although the Home Office is understood to be nearing their preferred choices.

Discussions remain ongoing with well-known Hillsborough chronicler Professor Phil Scraton, whose book Hillsborough – The Truth remains one of the most exhaustive writings on the disaster which took the lives of 96 Reds football fans.

Also expected to form part of the panel is a senior police chief, a health expert and an authority in archived documents.

Those announcements are likely to be made by the end of January.

Today, families who lost loved ones in Sheffield, and survivors from the Leppings Lane terraces, gave their backing to the Rt Rev James Jones.

Margaret Aspinall, chairwoman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said: “We welcome the appointment of a chairman and publication of the terms of reference which we see as a definite step forward in this lengthy process.

“The Right Reverend James Jones is a respected man of the cloth and we look forward to his impartial leadership of the panel in their difficult task.

“The remaining members of the panel are still a ‘work in progress’ and we will continue to work with government to ensure the panel is suitably balanced and experienced to ensure a fair and proper process, with hopefully the panel to be appointed by the end of January.”

Sheila Coleman, spokeswoman for the Hillsborough Justice Campaign, said: “We want an acknowledgement that Hillsborough was a cover-up.

“It doesn’t matter how long this process takes. You can’t put a time scale on it. This is the least that the families and survivors deserve.

“It’s important that there’s clarity and accountability. We will not be happy with the whole Hillsborough discussion being archived without there being a formal recognition of a cover-up and people named.”

The panel will work hand-in-hand with a team of professional archivists who will soon be given 12-month contracts to work on the project.


http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2009/12/15/bishop-of-liverpool-james-jones-will-lead-hillsborough-files-release-panel-100252-25391348/

Right Reverend James Jones 'humbled' to lead Hillborough document release panel

Dec 15 2009  By Luke Traynor

THE Right Reverend James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool, today said he was 'humbled' to be chosen to lead the Hillsborough documents release panel.

He will take charge of the five-strong committee responsible for making public up to two million documents about the 1989 tragedy for the first time.

He was hand picked by government bosses who were keen to have someone representing the city at the forefront of the disclosure.

He said: ""To be entrusted with this highly sensitive task by the Home Secretary is a humbling responsibility.

"I want to assure especially the Hillsborough families I will give myself wholeheartedly to the work of the Independent Panel. The fact that 30,000 people came to Anfield for the Hillsborough 20th anniversary service shows how deep the wound is still, and how great the longing is for healing.

"I am very aware that although many have waited years for this Independent Panel, the recalling of 15th April 1989 will nevertheless be a very painful and difficult time for all who were affected and for the cities of Liverpool, Sheffield and Nottingham."

Home Secretary Alan Johnson welcomed the appointment and said: "Establishing the Hillsborough Independent Panel is a big step forward towards releasing public papers to the Hillsborough families

"I am delighted Bishop James has accepted the responsibility of chairing the panel. He is respected across Liverpool and beyond for his work for the city and its people.

"Work is continuing to appoint the other members of the panel to assist Bishop James, who will chair its first meeting in Liverpool in the New Year."


http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2009/12/15/right-reverend-james-jones-humbled-to-lead-hillborough-document-release-panel-100252-25396502/