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| Hillsborough inquests: Disaster 'seared into the memories' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Hillsborough disaster is "seared into the memories" of everyone affected by it, the coroner has told jurors hearing the fresh inquests into the deaths of the 96 fans who died. | The Hillsborough disaster is "seared into the memories" of everyone affected by it, the coroner has told jurors hearing the fresh inquests into the deaths of the 96 fans who died. |
| Making an opening statement, Lord Justice Goldring said the tragedy was "the worst ever disaster at a British sports stadium". | Making an opening statement, Lord Justice Goldring said the tragedy was "the worst ever disaster at a British sports stadium". |
| The disaster unfolded on 15 April 1989 during Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest. | The disaster unfolded on 15 April 1989 during Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest. |
| The hearing could last a year. | The hearing could last a year. |
| At the coroner's court in Warrington, Lord Justice Goldring said: "The disaster is seared into the memories of the very many people affected by it, most notably of course the families of the 96 people who died." | At the coroner's court in Warrington, Lord Justice Goldring said: "The disaster is seared into the memories of the very many people affected by it, most notably of course the families of the 96 people who died." |
| He said the inquests would "investigate the disaster as a whole and consider the experiences of each of the 96". | He said the inquests would "investigate the disaster as a whole and consider the experiences of each of the 96". |
| The coroner told the jury panel of seven women and four men that the findings in the original inquests were quashed in December 2012. | The coroner told the jury panel of seven women and four men that the findings in the original inquests were quashed in December 2012. |
| "A new inquiry was needed, we are conducting the new or fresh inquiry. | "A new inquiry was needed, we are conducting the new or fresh inquiry. |
| "In doing so, we are not concerned with whether what was decided at the previous inquiries was right or wrong." | "In doing so, we are not concerned with whether what was decided at the previous inquiries was right or wrong." |
| 'Pressure in pens' | 'Pressure in pens' |
| Outlining the events of the day, Lord Justice Goldring said: "Around the time of the kick-off, a terrible crush developed in two pens, within the... terrace at the west end of the stadium - the Leppings Lane end. | Outlining the events of the day, Lord Justice Goldring said: "Around the time of the kick-off, a terrible crush developed in two pens, within the... terrace at the west end of the stadium - the Leppings Lane end. |
| "That's where the Liverpool fans were standing. | "That's where the Liverpool fans were standing. |
| "The pressure in the pens built up. Many of those in the pens suffered terrible crushing injuries." | "The pressure in the pens built up. Many of those in the pens suffered terrible crushing injuries." |
| He said that witnesses' memories "will inevitably have faded" in almost 25 years since the disaster. | He said that witnesses' memories "will inevitably have faded" in almost 25 years since the disaster. |
| Explaining the role of the jury, the coroner said: "As part of your task, you will, I anticipate, have to consider the underlying circumstances which contributed to the cause of these deaths, whether opportunities were lost which might have prevented the deaths or saved lives." | Explaining the role of the jury, the coroner said: "As part of your task, you will, I anticipate, have to consider the underlying circumstances which contributed to the cause of these deaths, whether opportunities were lost which might have prevented the deaths or saved lives." |
| The jury was told 500,000 documents and pieces of evidence have been disclosed to the legal teams so far. | |
| They were then shown diagrams and photographs of the stadium. | |
| Hillsborough stadium visit | |
| There had been a crushing incident at Hillsborough in 1981 in which 38 people were injured, the coroner said, which was relieved when gates in the fence between the terrace and the pitch were opened. | |
| After the incident, the central pen in the Leppings Lane terrace was given a capacity of 2,200, but there was no means of counting how many people went into a particular pen, the inquest heard. | |
| Going through the history of the stadium, which was built in 1899 but has been through many changes since, the coroner told the jury about reports of crushing in 1988. | |
| He said: "On April 9 1988 - in other words about a year before the disaster - Hillsborough hosted an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. | |
| "Some fans who attended the match later gave accounts of there being pressure and crushing within the Leppings Lane terraces. | |
| "There were no reports of serious injuries." | |
| Authorities deemed the operation a success and "they later modelled their plan for 1989 on the event in 1988", the coroner said. | |
| During the proceedings, the jury will be taken to Sheffield to visit the Hillsborough stadium for a one-day visit. | |
| Earlier, the inquest listened for six minutes while the names of the 96 victims were read out by Christina Lambert QC, counsel to the inquests. | Earlier, the inquest listened for six minutes while the names of the 96 victims were read out by Christina Lambert QC, counsel to the inquests. |
| Verdicts of accidental death from the original Hillsborough inquest in March 1991 were quashed in December 2012, after the Hillsborough Independent Panel delivered its final report on the disaster earlier that year. | Verdicts of accidental death from the original Hillsborough inquest in March 1991 were quashed in December 2012, after the Hillsborough Independent Panel delivered its final report on the disaster earlier that year. |
| The coroner told the jury that a new inquest was ordered following a "campaign by bereaved families". | The coroner told the jury that a new inquest was ordered following a "campaign by bereaved families". |
| Over the course of the hearing, jurors are expected to hear evidence on themes including stadium safety, emergency planning, crowd management and the response of the emergency services. | Over the course of the hearing, jurors are expected to hear evidence on themes including stadium safety, emergency planning, crowd management and the response of the emergency services. |
| The inquests are being held in a purpose-built courtroom, the biggest in England and Wales, in an office building in Birchwood Park, in Warrington. | The inquests are being held in a purpose-built courtroom, the biggest in England and Wales, in an office building in Birchwood Park, in Warrington. |
| The hearing will not sit in the week of the 25th anniversary of the disaster. | |
| Commenting on the reporting of the forthcoming anniversary coverage, the coroner told jurors to remember "whatever is said in any report is not evidence in the case". |