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Hillsborough disaster press coverage was odious, victim's family tell inquest Hillsborough disaster press coverage was odious, victim's family tell inquest
(about 1 hour later)
The sisters of a 38-year-old man killed at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough football ground in 1989 have described press coverage immediately after the disaster as odious and said it besmirched Liverpool supporters.The sisters of a 38-year-old man killed at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough football ground in 1989 have described press coverage immediately after the disaster as odious and said it besmirched Liverpool supporters.
Brian Matthews' sisters, Deborah, Brenda and Diane, told the inquest into the disaster that an unnamed broadsheet's description of fans' behaviour as "bestial" was an insult to their brother. By contrast the sisters thanked Liverpool supporters' "valiant efforts" at Hillsborough to help their brother, and others who were injured in the lethal crush on the ground's Leppings Lane terrace, in which 96 people died. Brian Matthews's sisters, Deborah, Brenda and Diane, told the inquest into the disaster that an unnamed broadsheet's description of fans' behaviour as "bestial" was an insult to their brother. By contrast the sisters thanked Liverpool supporters' "valiant efforts" at Hillsborough to help their brother, and others who were injured in the lethal crush on the ground's Leppings Lane terrace, in which 96 people died.
Matthews' sisters said their brother was a gifted mathematician who worked as a financial consultant for Legal & General, was happily married to his wife, Margaret, and did extensive charity work including chairing his local branch of Help the Aged. Matthews's sisters said their brother was a gifted mathematician who worked as a financial consultant for Legal & General, was happily married to his wife, Margaret, and did extensive charity work including chairing his local branch of Help the Aged.
"For somebody who contributed so much to society, the thought that our brother suffered such an ignominious death is repugnant."For somebody who contributed so much to society, the thought that our brother suffered such an ignominious death is repugnant.
"To add insult to injury, that the fans were described, in a broadsheet, as 'bestial,' is odious. Our parents never got over his death, and it breaks our heart to think that they have both gone to their graves with their well brought up, impeccably mannered, articulate son being called a beast. "To add insult to injury, that the fans were described, in a broadsheet, as 'bestial,' is odious. Our parents never got over his death, and it breaks our heart to think that they have both gone to their graves with their well-brought-up, impeccably mannered, articulate son being called a beast.
"The reputation of the fans was besmirched, and we as a family have defended Brian's good character for the last 25 years.""The reputation of the fans was besmirched, and we as a family have defended Brian's good character for the last 25 years."
The Matthews sisters said their brother was "cruelly robbed" of his life at Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough just when he and Margaret were planning to have children.The Matthews sisters said their brother was "cruelly robbed" of his life at Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough just when he and Margaret were planning to have children.
The inquest heard from the family of Ian Glover, who was 20 when he was killed in the crush. His father, John, had been a leading figure in establishing the Hillsborough Justice Campaign. He died from cancer in 2013 and was too ill in December 2012 to learn that the original 1990-91 inquest had been quashed. The inquest heard from the family of Ian Glover, who was 20 when he was killed in the crush. His father, John, had been a leading figure in establishing the Hillsborough Justice Campaign. He died from cancer in 2013, and in December 2012 was too ill to learn that the original 1990-91 inquest had been quashed.
"My father, John, dedicated his life to getting justice for Ian," said Lorraine Glover, Ian's sister. "After the disaster, Ian became one of the victims, no 37, which we found heartbreaking, because he was our lad and our life, and he was very popular." "My father, John, dedicated his life to getting justice for Ian," said Lorraine Glover, Ian's sister. "After the disaster, Ian became one of the victims, No 37, which we found heartbreaking, because he was our lad and our life, and he was very popular."
The inquest heard that Ian's brother, Joe, was also on the Leppings Lane terrace, but managed to escape from the overcrowded pen, then saw Ian being crushed through the fence at the front of it. Joe tried to resuscitate his brother, Lorraine Glover said, but was unable to save him, and he was always traumatised after that.The inquest heard that Ian's brother, Joe, was also on the Leppings Lane terrace, but managed to escape from the overcrowded pen, then saw Ian being crushed through the fence at the front of it. Joe tried to resuscitate his brother, Lorraine Glover said, but was unable to save him, and he was always traumatised after that.
"Joe would go missing and we would find him asleep on Ian's grave," she said."Joe would go missing and we would find him asleep on Ian's grave," she said.
Joe Glover was himself killed 10 years after Hillsborough in an accident at work, crushed by tonnes of marble, having pushed a colleague to safety, she said.Joe Glover was himself killed 10 years after Hillsborough in an accident at work, crushed by tonnes of marble, having pushed a colleague to safety, she said.
"Our family have learned to be very strong, but we will always be incomplete.""Our family have learned to be very strong, but we will always be incomplete."
Peter Burkett, 24 when he died, who like Brian Matthews had been previously described in a statement by other family members, was remembered by his stepmother, Anne. She said she married Peter's father, Terry, when Peter was a teenager, and found he was a "lovely, well-mannered boy" who always treated her three children as his full family. Peter Burkett worked at the Royal Life Insurance company in Warrington, where he met his girlfriend at the time, Debbie Quinn, who was in court, and she remembered another of their friends, Jonathon Owens, who also died at Hillsborough, aged 18.Peter Burkett, 24 when he died, who like Brian Matthews had been previously described in a statement by other family members, was remembered by his stepmother, Anne. She said she married Peter's father, Terry, when Peter was a teenager, and found he was a "lovely, well-mannered boy" who always treated her three children as his full family. Peter Burkett worked at the Royal Life Insurance company in Warrington, where he met his girlfriend at the time, Debbie Quinn, who was in court, and she remembered another of their friends, Jonathon Owens, who also died at Hillsborough, aged 18.
Anne Burkett said the family had only good memories of Peter, who was happy at the time of the disaster, and a caring person. Anne Burkett said the family had only good memories of Peter, who was happy at the time of the disaster, and a caring person. "I can only imagine that as he got pushed into people on the terrace [at Hillsborough] he would have been apologising to them. He was just that gentle," she said.
"I can only imagine that as he got pushed into people on the terrace [at Hillsborough] he would have been apologising to them. He was just that gentle," she said. The two brothers and two sisters of Steven Robinson, 17 when he died, paid tribute to him with fond reminiscences about a young man who loved music and fashion, saying: "He was certainly no stranger to the mirror."
The two brothers and two sisters of Steven Robinson, 17 when he died, paid tribute to him with fond reminiscences about a young man who loved the music and fashion of the 1980s, saying: "He was certainly no stranger to the mirror."
He particularly liked the Smiths and Echo and the Bunnymen, they said, and the Human League track Together in Electric Dreams was special to Steven and his then girlfriend, Clare, and it was played at his funeral.He particularly liked the Smiths and Echo and the Bunnymen, they said, and the Human League track Together in Electric Dreams was special to Steven and his then girlfriend, Clare, and it was played at his funeral.
Paul Robinson wept when recalling that his brother had given him the birthday present he had always wanted, taking him to watch Liverpool on Paul's 12th birthday, then on a tour of the club's home stadium.Paul Robinson wept when recalling that his brother had given him the birthday present he had always wanted, taking him to watch Liverpool on Paul's 12th birthday, then on a tour of the club's home stadium.
"There is a picture that I still cherish of me and Steven by the 'This is Anfield' sign," Paul Robinson told the jury."There is a picture that I still cherish of me and Steven by the 'This is Anfield' sign," Paul Robinson told the jury.
Peter Tootle, 21 when he died, was remembered in a loving tribute by his mother, Joan, as a quiet, shy young man who did not drink and liked a joke, and had a steady girlfriend who still keeps in touch with the family. In April 1989, before the disaster, Peter was planning to go abroad and on a plane, to Spain, for the first time.Peter Tootle, 21 when he died, was remembered in a loving tribute by his mother, Joan, as a quiet, shy young man who did not drink and liked a joke, and had a steady girlfriend who still keeps in touch with the family. In April 1989, before the disaster, Peter was planning to go abroad and on a plane, to Spain, for the first time.
"But it was never meant to be," Joan Tootle said. "I sometimes remember little things Peter said and I find myself laughing. There was always a lot of laughter when you were with him. Peter was a lovely lad. He was our lad.""But it was never meant to be," Joan Tootle said. "I sometimes remember little things Peter said and I find myself laughing. There was always a lot of laughter when you were with him. Peter was a lovely lad. He was our lad."
The mother of Keith McGrath, who was 17 when he died, told the inquest "a part of me died" when she lost her eldest son, remembering "a love I had never experienced before, surged out of me for him", when he was born.The mother of Keith McGrath, who was 17 when he died, told the inquest "a part of me died" when she lost her eldest son, remembering "a love I had never experienced before, surged out of me for him", when he was born.
Having done well at school, Keith McGrath had left at 16 to do an apprenticeship as a painter and decorator, and was planning to set up his own business. "He had it all worked out," Mary Corrigan said.Having done well at school, Keith McGrath had left at 16 to do an apprenticeship as a painter and decorator, and was planning to set up his own business. "He had it all worked out," Mary Corrigan said.
She said that ever since he died at Hillsborough she has been nagged by guilt that he might never have been at the FA Cup semi-final had they not bought him a Liverpool season ticket, which he wanted for his 17th birthday. Speaking of the day of the disaster, she said: She said that ever since he died at Hillsborough she has been nagged by guilt that he might never have been at the FA Cup semi-final had they not bought him a Liverpool season ticket, which he wanted for his 17th birthday.
"I was so proud of him and always will be. He was the shining star of my life. If [only] I could have stretched my arms to where you were on that disastrous day, and cuddled you like I did when you were first born, and brought you home." Speaking of the day of the disaster, she said: "I was so proud of him and always will be. He was the shining star of my life. If [only] I could have stretched my arms to where you were on that disastrous day, and cuddled you like I did when you were first born, and brought you home."
The inquest jury of seven women and four men heard statements from families of four more victims of the Hillsborough crush, which meant all 96 have now been remembered.The inquest jury of seven women and four men heard statements from families of four more victims of the Hillsborough crush, which meant all 96 have now been remembered.
Michael Mansfield QC, representing 74 bereaved families in the Hillsborough Family Support Group, thanked the coroner, Lord Justice Goldring, on behalf of all the families, for the opportunity to make the statements, which he said have provided "a permanent testament to the dignity of the human spirit." Michael Mansfield QC, representing 74 bereaved families in the Hillsborough Family Support Group, thanked the coroner, Lord Justice Goldring, on behalf of all the families, for the opportunity to make the statements, which he said have provided "a permanent testament to the dignity of the human spirit".
The inquest resumes on 20 May.The inquest resumes on 20 May.