This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-21387686
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Hillsborough's Trevor Hicks meets 'hero' police officer | Hillsborough's Trevor Hicks meets 'hero' police officer |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A father who lost his two daughters in the Hillsborough disaster has been reunited with the policeman who tried to help them on the day of the tragedy. | A father who lost his two daughters in the Hillsborough disaster has been reunited with the policeman who tried to help them on the day of the tragedy. |
Trevor Hicks's daughters Sarah, 19, and Victoria, 15, were among the 96 who died as a result of the 1989 disaster. | Trevor Hicks's daughters Sarah, 19, and Victoria, 15, were among the 96 who died as a result of the 1989 disaster. |
Mr Hicks's last meeting with Peter McGuinness was when he was working as a young constable on the day of the tragedy and tried to save Victoria. | |
It was down to the policeman to break the news of her death to Mr Hicks. | It was down to the policeman to break the news of her death to Mr Hicks. |
Mr Hicks said: "What he did was awful for him, but I see it as being a hero for me and that is something I need to say publicly." | Mr Hicks said: "What he did was awful for him, but I see it as being a hero for me and that is something I need to say publicly." |
Something wrong | Something wrong |
Sarah and Victoria went with their father to the Leppings Lane end of Sheffield Wednesday's stadium for the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on 15 April. | Sarah and Victoria went with their father to the Leppings Lane end of Sheffield Wednesday's stadium for the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on 15 April. |
However, they became separated. | However, they became separated. |
Meanwhile Mr McGuinness had been drafted in to police the match and was working one of his final shifts as a uniformed officer before joining CID. | |
He said as the game got under way it soon became apparent something was wrong. | He said as the game got under way it soon became apparent something was wrong. |
As fans began to get crushed in the two pens, Mr McGuinness pulled Victoria on to the pitch. | |
Medics worked on Sarah alongside them while the officer and Mr Hicks tried to revive Victoria. | Medics worked on Sarah alongside them while the officer and Mr Hicks tried to revive Victoria. |
She was taken in an ambulance to the Northern General Hospital with Mr McGuiness and her father still trying to resuscitate her. | She was taken in an ambulance to the Northern General Hospital with Mr McGuiness and her father still trying to resuscitate her. |
At the hospital, the officer stayed with Victoria while doctors tried to save her. | At the hospital, the officer stayed with Victoria while doctors tried to save her. |
Mr McGuinness said: "Unfortunately at some point they stopped and said she'd gone and I was faced with the sad job of informing Trevor." | |
That was the last time the two men saw each other. | That was the last time the two men saw each other. |
During the intervening years, Mr Hicks has been at the forefront of a campaign to get justice for the families of the Liverpool fans. | During the intervening years, Mr Hicks has been at the forefront of a campaign to get justice for the families of the Liverpool fans. |
As chairman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, he has always blamed policing failures on the day for the deaths. | As chairman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, he has always blamed policing failures on the day for the deaths. |
The group campaigned for the release of all relevant documents, which led to the formation of the Hillsborough Independent Panel. | The group campaigned for the release of all relevant documents, which led to the formation of the Hillsborough Independent Panel. |
'Moral dilemma' | 'Moral dilemma' |
Last September a report by the panel found some of the dead might have been saved and said police had changed witness statements and tried to blame Liverpool fans. | Last September a report by the panel found some of the dead might have been saved and said police had changed witness statements and tried to blame Liverpool fans. |
In December, the High Court quashed the original inquest verdicts of accidental death and ordered new inquests to be held. | In December, the High Court quashed the original inquest verdicts of accidental death and ordered new inquests to be held. |
Despite the bitter divide between victims' families and police, Mr Hicks has always been grateful for Mr McGuinness's efforts to help save his family. | |
The only contact between the two men over the years was a letter written by Mr Hicks in 1989 commending the officer's actions on the day. | The only contact between the two men over the years was a letter written by Mr Hicks in 1989 commending the officer's actions on the day. |
Addressed to the then South Yorkshire Police chief constable Peter Wright, it said: "For some time I have wrestled with the moral dilemma of wishing to commend one of your constables and yet find it extremely difficult to write to yourself for reasons of which you aware. | Addressed to the then South Yorkshire Police chief constable Peter Wright, it said: "For some time I have wrestled with the moral dilemma of wishing to commend one of your constables and yet find it extremely difficult to write to yourself for reasons of which you aware. |
"I wish to commend the actions of Pc 1926 (Peter John McGuinness)... | |
"It is my belief that the officer, under extremely harrowing conditions, did all he could to assist the attempt to save Victoria, and did so in a professional and caring way." | "It is my belief that the officer, under extremely harrowing conditions, did all he could to assist the attempt to save Victoria, and did so in a professional and caring way." |
Now they have been reunited to enable Mr Hicks to thank him in person. | Now they have been reunited to enable Mr Hicks to thank him in person. |
Speaking after their meeting, which took place in Sheffield's Hillsborough memorial park, Mr Hicks said: "We've crossed a personal divide. | Speaking after their meeting, which took place in Sheffield's Hillsborough memorial park, Mr Hicks said: "We've crossed a personal divide. |
"I didn't see this as the two sides, South Yorkshire Police versus the families. | "I didn't see this as the two sides, South Yorkshire Police versus the families. |
"I see this as me the individual saying thank you to another individual who happened to be a young police officer on the day for what he did to help." | "I see this as me the individual saying thank you to another individual who happened to be a young police officer on the day for what he did to help." |
'Stiff handshake' | 'Stiff handshake' |
Mr McGuinness said: "My instinct was to give him a hug as I did all those years back in the hospital when I told him the terrible news. | |
"But somehow the hug became a stiff handshake." | "But somehow the hug became a stiff handshake." |
He added: "After 30 years you sort of think you're hardened to various aspects of life and death. | He added: "After 30 years you sort of think you're hardened to various aspects of life and death. |
"Getting back to the human interaction with Trevor it's been a reminder of what's this all about. | "Getting back to the human interaction with Trevor it's been a reminder of what's this all about. |
"This was about Victoria, his daughter Sarah and all the other victims. In amongst that there's such a tragic story." | "This was about Victoria, his daughter Sarah and all the other victims. In amongst that there's such a tragic story." |
Both men, who embraced when they parted, said they planned to meet again in the future. | Both men, who embraced when they parted, said they planned to meet again in the future. |
See more on this on Inside Out on Monday 18 February on BBC1 at 19:30 GMT. | See more on this on Inside Out on Monday 18 February on BBC1 at 19:30 GMT. |
Previous version
1
Next version