Merseyside Writing on the Wall presents...
Hillsborough: ‘Speaking Truth to Power’
Phil Scraton
7.30pm, 21 November 2012
The Concert Room, St George’s Hall, Liverpool
The Hillsborough Independent Panel’s Report was launched at the Anglican Cathedral on 12 September 2012. Its findings led to a full Government apology and an outpouring of anger with calls for justice for the victims and their families and prosecutions of the guilty. The Panel’s work, chaired by the Rt Rev James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool, was unprecedented. It accessed, researched and analysed documents released by 85 organisations and individuals, focusing on the context, circumstances and of the Hillsborough Disaster.
In late 2009, following representations to the Home Secretary by the Hillsborough Family Support Group supported by Merseyside MPs, the UK Government appointed the Hillsborough Independent Panel. Its main responsibilities were to maximise public disclosure of all documents, to make the documents available publicly, to make recommendations for a permanent archive and to show how the disclosed documents ‘add to public understanding’.
Within the documents the Panel found that: warnings of fans’ compromised safety went unheeded making the disaster foreseeable; an unsafe venue had been made dangerous by unlicensed modifications; fans’ behaviour did not contribute to the disaster; unfounded allegations were fed deliberately to the media by the police and politicians; medical evidence was unreliable and misrepresented; bereaved families were failed consistently by flawed investigations and inquiries.
Phil Scraton was responsible for heading the Panel’s research and primary author of the Report. From Merseyside and author of the highly acclaimed Hillsborough: The Truth, he is Professor of Criminology in the School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast. In this public lecture he reflects on what was known previously, explores the Report’s extensive findings and considers the implications for truth, justice and accountability.
The event will be opened by Sense of Sound:
"Sense of Sound creates and produces amazing ways to celebrate singing and have performed extensively around the UK and internationally. They have worked with many international artists including Brian Eno, Imogen Heap, Damon Albarn, Russell Watson and featured in BBCs The Choir with Gareth Malone, Last Choir Standing and The Royal Variety show. Their performance in support of the Hillsborough 96 promises to be uplifting and joyous"
Entry is free but tickets must be booked through the Philarmonic Hall box office
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