Hillsborough: 96 fans 'unlawfully killed'

An inquest into the Hillsborough disaster has found that the 96 fans who were crushed to death were unlawfully killed.

The jury at Warrington Crown Court yesterday concluded that failures by the police are what caused the disaster and that the Liverpool fans were not to blame in any way.

The families of the victims were finally able to get justice after a 27 year battle since the tragedy at Hillsborough stadium in 1989.

The findings revealed failings in police planning at the game and that their failings on the day contributed to the death of 96 fans being killed and a further 766 being injured.

Findings also showed that the failure of the ambulance service also contributed to the loss of lives. Over 40 ambulances were called to the stadium, but only three ambulances made it onto the pitch over an hour after the crush began.

Former police chief, David Duckenfield sensationally confessed that he had ordered an exit gate at the Leppings Lane end of the stadium to be opened, which led to thousands of Liverpool fans to enter fenced in terraces which were already full.

Duckenfield was the Police Commander on the day of the FA Cup semi-final tie between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool at Hillsborough and his admissions have been a key moment in the inquest, leaving many asking questions as to why it has taken so long.

Duckenfield and the police then covered up the disaster by saying that the Liverpool fans were drunk and had forced the gates open and burst into the ground without tickets. This was an outrageous lie.

Police deflected the blame onto the Liverpool fans claiming that their disorder was the reason behind the crush, a story which became far too easy for the British public to accept.

Duckenfield admitted lying to the Football Association and was found responsible for manslaughter by gross negligence.

Friends and relatives of the victims burst into tears and applause as the verdict was read out in court following the two year inquest, the longest in British legal history.

The families who have campaigned for so long emerged from court yesterday united, singing the Liverpool anthem: ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone.’

The families now face another wait to see if police commanders will face prosecution, which should be known by the end of the year pending two further investigations.

The verdict comes as a relief to the families who have fought so long for justice. Over the last 27 years they have been mocked and dismissed in their campaign to expose the truth. The findings conclude a monumental campaign for justice and categorically prove that at the end of a storm, there really is a golden sky.