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Hillsborough inquest rules 96 victims were unlawfully killed – live updates Hillsborough inquest rules 96 victims were unlawfully killed – live updates
(35 minutes later)
12.37pm BST
12:37
On our comment site we have this piece by Julie Fallon, whose brother, Andrew Sefton, 23, died at Hillsborough.
Here’s an extract:
At the risk of invoking some of the many slurs thrown at both us and the city of Liverpool over the years, I feel I need to say that while it is an unpalatable truth for a portion of the population and one that they would really rather not hear or accept, it is the shameful truth that for the vast majority of the past 27 years, we the families, the survivors and the fans, were systematically and maliciously bullied, intimidated, manipulated, lied to and lied about.
We were used for personal and political gain, marginalised and publicly vilified by those in our country who were placed in positions of power and influence, which were primarily designed to support, protect and administer our fundamental rights.
Related: How are we, the Hillsborough families, still standing? We took the power back | Julie Fallon
12.32pm BST
12:32
Owen Gibson
Margaret Aspinall, the leading campaigner pictured below, whose 18-year-old son James died in the disaster, has been talking to reporters outside the inquest. My colleague Owen Gibson sends these quotes.
The fans should all go home and be proud of themselves, they are the heroes. They did nothing wrong that day and we did this for all of them too. Our city always gets brought down but yet again it’s the tough people of Liverpool who have had to fight a cause that was so unjust, so unfair. We’ve done it and we’ve won it and I’m proud of every single one of them.
I don’t like to get upset but it’s an emotional day. I’ve given everything I can along with the other families over 27 years to get where we are.
To do what we’ve done and achieved what we’ve done now will help other people who have never had voices who are fighting for a just cause - always have hope, do what the Hillsborough families have done. Stick together. And if I can help anyone I will help them because we’ve received so much help from all the ordinary people.
When question six came up and we got that unlawful killing... I don’t know if people remember but in the generic inquest under Dr Stefan Popper, when the jury came out with accidental death on 96 innocent people I wrote to him and said ‘Don’t send me my son’s death certificate until I get the correct verdict on it’.
I can accept it now. I’ve got the correct verdict. We fought for all of these years to get that. We’ve got justice hopefully for those 96. Now let’s see what follows.
She added:
People say we’ve been on a long journey. I don’t look on it as a long journey, I look on that as going on holiday. But we’ve been on some very bumpy roads, we’ve been climbing up mountains and never reached the top. We’ve got to the peak now lads! Every one of us has got to the peak of that mountain and got what we rightfully deserved. I knew in the end we will overcome them, they will not rule us.
Updated
at 12.38pm BST
12.30pm BST
12:30
More images from outside the inquest earlier.
12.26pm BST
12:26
A long, thorough, heartbreaking must-read by David Conn: the mistakes and the lies that lasted for decades.
Related: Hillsborough disaster: deadly mistakes and lies that lasted decades
Updated
at 12.28pm BST
12.24pm BST
12:24
David Conn is back in the coroner’s court, listening to the time and cause of death of those who died.
Hillsborough Inquests: Cause of death for almost all 96 people who died is being given as compression asphyxia. Their life was squeezed out.
Hillsborough Inquests: Jury gives cause of death on Jon-Paul Gilhooley: compression asphyxia. He was the youngest to die; aged only 10.
12.19pm BST
12:19
As useful background to the way the jury reached its conclusions, this link (pdf) shows the document they were given with the 14 questions and the way they should approach them.
12.17pm BST
12:17
My colleague, Anushka Asthana, has been at the regular Downing Street press briefing, which saw an update on the official reaction to the inquest:
The prime minister’s spokeswoman said that the government would respond by a written ministerial statement today, followed by a statement tomorrow: ”Clearly this has been one of the longest running legal cases in British history and we are going to need to take time to digest the verdict.”
12.15pm BST
12:15
Here’s a video of the families singing following the verdicts.
12.15pm BST
12:15
Speaking outside court, Margaret Aspinall says she will finally be able to accept a death certificate for her son James after 27 years.
12.14pm BST
12:14
The jury is sitting again inside the court and going through the long and grim process of listing all the times and causes of death for the 96 victims. The causes of death are all compression asphyxia – crushing – or conditions linked to it.
What is interesting is the times of death: the original inquest set a cut-off for all deaths at 3.15pm that day, saying no fans could have survived beyond then. But the new jury is giving many later times.
12.06pm BST
12:06
My colleague, Jane Martinson, has called the Sun newspaper to see whether they have any reaction to today’s jury decisions. The response:
No comment, thanks.
12.04pm BST12.04pm BST
12:0412:04
Here’s another David Conn story, about the likely progress of criminal investigations into what happened at Hillsborough.Here’s another David Conn story, about the likely progress of criminal investigations into what happened at Hillsborough.
Related: Hillsborough criminal investigations 'to send files to CPS by year end'Related: Hillsborough criminal investigations 'to send files to CPS by year end'
12.03pm BST12.03pm BST
12:0312:03
My colleague Steven Morris has been trying to elicit reaction from David Duckenfield, the now-retired police officer in charge of policing at the match, who faced significant criticism at the inquest.My colleague Steven Morris has been trying to elicit reaction from David Duckenfield, the now-retired police officer in charge of policing at the match, who faced significant criticism at the inquest.
Hillsborough inquest - no answer at the door of David Duckenfield's bungalow in Dorset.Hillsborough inquest - no answer at the door of David Duckenfield's bungalow in Dorset.
12.01pm BST12.01pm BST
12:0112:01
The official Downing Street Twitter feed has these comments from David Cameron. The Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, are asking that he and the home secretary, make formal apologies to the families in parliament.The official Downing Street Twitter feed has these comments from David Cameron. The Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, are asking that he and the home secretary, make formal apologies to the families in parliament.
PM: Landmark day as the #Hillsborough inquest provides long overdue justice for the 96 Liverpool fans who died in the tragic disaster.PM: Landmark day as the #Hillsborough inquest provides long overdue justice for the 96 Liverpool fans who died in the tragic disaster.
PM: I would like to pay tribute to the extraordinary courage of #Hillsborough campaigners in their long search for the truth.PM: I would like to pay tribute to the extraordinary courage of #Hillsborough campaigners in their long search for the truth.
11.56am BST11.56am BST
11:5611:56
Here’s a timeline by David Conn about the families’ 27-year wait for justice.Here’s a timeline by David Conn about the families’ 27-year wait for justice.
Related: Hillsborough inquest timeline: the long wait for justiceRelated: Hillsborough inquest timeline: the long wait for justice
11.52am BST11.52am BST
11:5211:52
David Conn took this brief video of the families singing. It’s extraordinary stuff.David Conn took this brief video of the families singing. It’s extraordinary stuff.
Hillsborough families emerge from the Unlawful Killing verdict and outside court sing You'll Never Walk Alone. pic.twitter.com/pGLvhb4xuUHillsborough families emerge from the Unlawful Killing verdict and outside court sing You'll Never Walk Alone. pic.twitter.com/pGLvhb4xuU
11.50am BST11.50am BST
11:5011:50
This is the moment when relatives, leaving the coroner’s court, began to sing, You’ll Never Walk Alone.This is the moment when relatives, leaving the coroner’s court, began to sing, You’ll Never Walk Alone.
11.48am BST11.48am BST
11:4811:48
CPS to consider if any criminal charges should be brought over HillsboroughCPS to consider if any criminal charges should be brought over Hillsborough
Following the verdict the Crown Prosecution Service has said it will now consider whether there should be any criminal charges against those deemed to blame.Following the verdict the Crown Prosecution Service has said it will now consider whether there should be any criminal charges against those deemed to blame.
Sue Hemming, head of the special crime and counter terrorism at the CPS:Sue Hemming, head of the special crime and counter terrorism at the CPS:
Following the inquest’s determinations the CPS team will continue to work closely with Operation Resolve and the IPCC as in due course, the CPS will formally consider whether any criminal charges should be brought against any individual or corporate body based upon all the available evidence, in accordance with the code for Crown Prosecutors.Following the inquest’s determinations the CPS team will continue to work closely with Operation Resolve and the IPCC as in due course, the CPS will formally consider whether any criminal charges should be brought against any individual or corporate body based upon all the available evidence, in accordance with the code for Crown Prosecutors.
We would ask that everyone is mindful of the continuing investigations and the potential for future criminal proceedings when reporting or publicly commenting on the inquest’s conclusions.We would ask that everyone is mindful of the continuing investigations and the potential for future criminal proceedings when reporting or publicly commenting on the inquest’s conclusions.
Deputy chair of the Independent Police Complains Commission, Rachel Cerfontyne:Deputy chair of the Independent Police Complains Commission, Rachel Cerfontyne:
The conclusion of the inquests is another milestone and a day when my thoughts are with the families and friends of those who died as a result of the disaster.The conclusion of the inquests is another milestone and a day when my thoughts are with the families and friends of those who died as a result of the disaster.
Now the inquests have ended our role in providing documents and other material to support the coroner is over. However the end of the inquests does not mark the end of the process.Our attention now focuses on concluding our criminal investigation into the aftermath of the disaster. This is by far the biggest and most complex investigation ever undertaken by the IPCC.Now the inquests have ended our role in providing documents and other material to support the coroner is over. However the end of the inquests does not mark the end of the process.Our attention now focuses on concluding our criminal investigation into the aftermath of the disaster. This is by far the biggest and most complex investigation ever undertaken by the IPCC.
We have made significant progress on the investigation and we will continue to work closely with Operation Resolve and the Crown Prosecution Service to pursue our remaining lines of enquiry as quickly and as thoroughly as possible. I anticipate we will conclude the criminal investigations by the turn of the year.We have made significant progress on the investigation and we will continue to work closely with Operation Resolve and the Crown Prosecution Service to pursue our remaining lines of enquiry as quickly and as thoroughly as possible. I anticipate we will conclude the criminal investigations by the turn of the year.
UpdatedUpdated
at 11.49am BSTat 11.49am BST
11.44am BST
11:44
Here’s our video into the background to the disaster.
11.42am BST
11:42
At the top of this page you will currently find a live video stream of events outside the coroner’s court in Warrington. Relatives have just joined together to sing You’ll Never Walk Alone. It’s extraordinarily emotional stuff.
11.41am BST
11:41
Another banner outside the court, reminding people of the Sun newspaper’s infamous “The Truth” front page story following the disaster.
Banner displayed outside court... pic.twitter.com/QWMaLA0L0N
11.38am BST
11:38
My colleague Josh Halliday, who is outside the the court, has been speaking to Andy McGrath, 46, a Liverpool fan who was at Hillsborough on the day.
11.37am BST
11:37
Here’s some of the scenes outside the inquest venue. Jubilation, vindication, but most of all sadness. Remember: when the inquest reconvenes very soon, they will go back inside and hear the details of how and when their loved ones died.
11.33am BST
11:33
More reaction.
Finally, thankfully, justice for the 96! Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/LEutDYfol5
11.32am BST
11:32
The first political reaction to the decisions is starting to come in. Here’s some quotes from Andy Burnham, the Labour MP who had long called for a new inquiry into what happened:
This has been the greatest miscarriage of justice of our times. But, finally, it is over. After 27 long years, this is real justice for the 96, their families and all Liverpool supporters. The survivors of this tragedy can finally be remembered for what they were on that day - the heroes of Hillsborough who tried to help their fellow fans.
The Hillsborough Independent Panel gave us the truth. This Inquest has delivered justice. Next must come accountability. For 27 years, this police force has consistently put protecting itself above protecting those hurt by the horror of Hillsborough. People must be held to account for their actions and prosecutions must now follow.
Disgracefully, lawyers for retired police have attempted to continue the cover-up in this courtroom. They made it an adversarial battle in defiance of the Lord Chief Justice’s ruling. This has been brutal on the Hillsborough families and put them through hell once again. The current leadership of South Yorkshire Police needs to explain why it went back on its 2012 apology at this Inquest, prolonging the agony for the families.
The sense of relief we feel is tempered by the knowledge that this day has taken far too long in coming. The struggle for justice has taken too great a toll on too many. But the Hillsborough families have at long last prevailed and finally their loved-ones can rest in peace.
And also by Steve Rotheram, MP for Liverpool Walton:
I have waited 27 years for this moment. But I know it comes too late for many. I was there on the day and saw the horror unfold before my very eyes.
Before we’d even buried our dead, the hurt of loss was compounded by the lies and smears. I remember picking up a newspaper and feeling sick to the pit of my stomach. They inflicted terrible pain on a city at its moment of maximum grief.
I’ve seen how friends have suffered. This is a momentous day but they should never have had to wait so long. The truth is out there for all to see. Justice has been served by the verdicts and now it is about accountability.
11.27am BST
11:27
David Conn has tweeted what this all means: complete vindication for the families who fought so long to find out what happened to their loved ones.
Hillsborough Inquests: The Jury has completely vindicated the families' 27 year fight against South Yorkshire police's blaming of supporters
11.25am BST
11:25
Some of the relatives are coming out of the court, to cheers and hugs.
Court adjourned to huge round of applause from family members inside the courtroom and the annex. Hugging, tears, heads in hands.
Updated
at 11.26am BST
11.25am BST
11:25
It’s also a “yes” to the final question, number 14, about errors by the ambulance service:
Hillsborough Inquests: Jury: There were errors by South Yorkshire metropolitan ambulance service; started with failure to recognise crisis.
This was the question:
After the crush in the west terrace had begun to develop, was there any error or omission by Symas which caused or contributed to the loss of lives in the disaster?