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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bishop to head Hillsborough panel | Bishop to head Hillsborough panel |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The Bishop of Liverpool is to chair the panel overseeing the release of files on the Hillsborough disaster, it has been announced. | The Bishop of Liverpool is to chair the panel overseeing the release of files on the Hillsborough disaster, it has been announced. |
| The Right Reverend James Jones will head the five-strong committee which will make public hundreds of thousands of documents about the 1989 tragedy. | The Right Reverend James Jones will head the five-strong committee which will make public hundreds of thousands of documents about the 1989 tragedy. |
| The papers held by police and other agencies have to be sorted before they are made public. | The papers held by police and other agencies have to be sorted before they are made public. |
| The Hillsborough Family Support Group welcomed the bishop's appointment. | The Hillsborough Family Support Group welcomed the bishop's appointment. |
| Its calls for the release of the files gained strong support after events to mark the 20th anniversary of the tragedy, which claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool supporters. | Its calls for the release of the files gained strong support after events to mark the 20th anniversary of the tragedy, which claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool supporters. |
| I want to assure especially the Hillsborough families I will give myself wholeheartedly to the work of the independent panel The Right Reverend James JonesBishop of Liverpool | I want to assure especially the Hillsborough families I will give myself wholeheartedly to the work of the independent panel The Right Reverend James JonesBishop of Liverpool |
| The bishop's appointment was announced by the Home Secretary Alan Johnson, who hailed the move as a "big step forward". | The bishop's appointment was announced by the Home Secretary Alan Johnson, who hailed the move as a "big step forward". |
| He said: "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." | He said: "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, which will meet for the first time in Liverpool in the New Year. | Work is continuing to appoint the other members of the panel, which will meet for the first time in Liverpool in the New Year. |
| Bishop James said it was a "humbling responsibility" to take on the task. | Bishop James said it was a "humbling responsibility" to take on the task. |
| 'Step forward' | 'Step forward' |
| "I want to assure especially the Hillsborough families I will give myself wholeheartedly to the work of the independent panel," he said. | "I want to assure especially the Hillsborough families I will give myself wholeheartedly to the work of the independent panel," he said. |
| "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. | "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." | "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." |
| class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/7992845.stm">How the disaster happened | |
| Supporters were crushed to death at the stadium in Sheffield on 15 April 1989 during Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final tie with Nottingham Forest. | Supporters were crushed to death at the stadium in Sheffield on 15 April 1989 during Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final tie with Nottingham Forest. |
| The government promised in July to release documents relating to the events of the day. | The government promised in July to release documents relating to the events of the day. |
| Margaret Aspinall, of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said the bishop's appointment and establishment of the panel was "a definite step forward" in their battle to view the files. | Margaret Aspinall, of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said the bishop's appointment and establishment of the panel was "a definite step forward" in their battle to view the files. |
| "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," she said. | "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," she said. |
| "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." | "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." |
| The families of the victims have kept up a campaign to have the events which led to the deaths fully investigated, despite there being previous inquiries. | The families of the victims have kept up a campaign to have the events which led to the deaths fully investigated, despite there being previous inquiries. |
| As well as overseeing the public disclosure of information, the panel will work on establishing an archive of the files. | |
| It has also been asked to produce a report explaining its work and how the information adds to public understanding of the tragedy and its aftermath. |