Hillsborough

Bosses react to Hillsborough news
Published: 13 Sep 2012 - 13:11:0011

Martin O'Neill has praised the courage of the families whose fight for justice over the Hillsborough tragedy finally uncovered the truth.

The Hillsborough Independent Panel revealed in a 396-page document that a police cover-up had taken place which had intended to shift blame for the events at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest, which claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool fans, to the victims themselves. Former Forest midfielder O'Neill, now manager at Sunderland, who host the Reds in the Premier League on Saturday evening in what is certain to be an emotionally-charged game, said:

"It's been going on for so, so long, but it is total vindication for those Liverpool people who felt this was worthy, to fight this all the way. "They always felt they had been maligned greatly and it has worked for them. "I think everyone is in total agreement that it's a total vindication of their thoughts and their viewpoints at the time, and they must draw some sort of comfort from this, even though 96 people still lost their lives. "In many aspects, it's rather late, but if there is such a thing as a victory for them, it is that.

"It doesn't bring people back, of course, but they have been totally and utterly vindicated." Wigan boss Roberto Martinez said the deaths were not only a tragedy for Liverpool as a club and a city, but for the whole of football. He said: "I know that sometimes you see things that are away from your football club, but you feel part of it. I think it affects the whole football family. "In many ways, it's a moment where a bit of truth allows you to have a bit of closure. All of our feelings and sympathies goes to the families of the 96 people.

"I'm sure that from now on they can fight for justice, but it is an issue that affects the whole football family and we feel part of that. Our thoughts go to them. "I thought it was a very important moment to try to get that truth and closure which is very important. It was probably the biggest tragedy in British football and that really affected everyone in football."

 

What enquiry would that be then? There are no lies or blame shifted on to innocent parties. LFC apologised to Juventus and cooperated with the authorities in the aftermath of the disaster. The clubs have since been deemed friends and organise events on the anniversary to remember the victims, obviously some Juve fans choose to turn their back on any olive branch offered by LFC which is understandable.

Unlike Hillsborough, this was down to hooliganism. The last straw, LFC and English football were punished and rightly so. 14 LFC fans were extradited and sentenced.

So why the enquiry? Apart from your obvious hatred for LFC and disgust in seeing the fans being recognised as 'not to blame' yesterday.

 

Agree about Heysel mind, no need for investigation.

 

I agree. If they do they will find it clearly states (my emphasis):

153. Consistent with Lord Justice Taylor’s findings, the Panel found no evidence among the vast number of disclosed documents and many hours of video material to verify the serious allegations of exceptional levels of drunkenness, ticketlessness or violence among Liverpool fans. There was no evidence that fans had conspired to arrive late at the stadium and force entry and no evidence that they stole from the dead and dying. Documents show that fans became frustrated by the inadequate response to the unfolding tragedy. The vast majority of fans on the pitch assisted in rescuing and evacuating the injured and the dead.

However, having had these types of discussion before I am sure I have wasted my time posting this. Some people just seem congenitally incapable of accepting the evidence and prefer to perpetuate myth and proven lies.

 

A lot of people were mislead by what was pumped out at the time, myself included.
However, since reading the report my view has changed.

Now that the families of the dead & injured have the truth, I hope they can find justice too, thus bring the full disclosure on it.

Let's not forget, a lot of police officers on duty that day received compensation for trauma whilst the survivors & families of the dead got nothing.
I find that very difficult to comprehend.

 

It was known for years that Hillsbrough was NOT safe...The same crush happened in 81 in the Spurs end ... thankfully the gates were open so people could escape.
The police lied...they claimed that thousands charged the gate...LIE; they claimed they were attacked...LIE; they claimed Liverpool fans pissed on them and the dying...LIE; they claimed Liverpool fans robbed the dead and dying...LIE and they claimed that after 3.15pm all 96 were dead...LIE.

They lied to save their arses and for these lies they deserve to be charged, convicted and imprisoned.

The police treated ALL football fans like scum... this is the mentality that led to them herding fans like cattle and it led to the deaths of the 96.

Any talk of people being pissed or not having tickets is a ****ing joke. IF the police had done their job and opened the correct gates, IF the gates had been unlocked (as in 81) and IF the health and safety standards (the stuff that the right wing call "red tape") had been followed then there would have been no tragedy. Therefore anything else is irrelevant and all this stuff about other causes just let the low life, self serving scum who treated football fans so badly or allowed fans to be treated so badly, treated the dead with contempt and didn't give a **** about the survivors or relatives (ie the police, politicians, the SUN, the FA)off the hook.

I'm am so pleased the J96 campaign have come this far and am proud that I and hundreds of thousands of other fans have supported them from day 1...that could have been any of us that day

 

Yes, absolutely mate.

Are you up for the game on Saturday?

 

Can't disagree with any of that stuff like.

 

I'm a Spurs fan mate...but will be supporting your lot...I fully support the L'pool fans campaign but not their team! Living in London it used to do my head in how many Londoners supported Liverpool back in the 70's and 80's when I was at school...all had really **** reasons to support them like "me mum bought a beatles record once"

I really hope that all the fans at every match do the 96 proud this weekend.

Enjoy your match mate

 

slightly off topic but involves policing at grounds. I remember being at a Villa v Sunderland game mid nineties and once the game finished and I made my way to the exit to leave along with many other Sunderland fan's the police were forcing us to exit through a single doorway and would not open the big double gates, it was quite obvious with the fans streaming out like they were that there was going to be problem's.

I can recall one guy literally kicking the double gates and shouting at the police to open them and the police just didn't seemed bothered, more fans got involved and eventually they decided to open the big double door's, I dread to think what might have happened if they hadn't considering how quick people were leaving the ground.

It just shows that back then the Police hadn't learnt the lessons from previous.

 

From what i've read a major cause of the crush was the fact that there were no stewards/police to direct the fans away from the middle two pens. If they had of done there was ample room in the rest of the stand, even for all of those waiting outside! Aparently this practice was normal, but for some reason not on this day! Opening the exit gate may not have been a bad idea if the middle pens had been blocked once it became clear they were full! No communication! I was interested to read as well that there were still tickets for sale at Anfield on the morning of the match!

 

I think there is a hidden factor in all this, and that is the subservience of the British people. They do tend to believe anyone with a double-barreled name, with a smart suit, with a posh accent, with a couple of ribbons on their chest. Without that unthinking deference I don't think the poor families of the 96 would have had to wait 23 years for a bit of justice. The phlegmatism of the Brits is staggering to me.

 

Spot on.

There will still be people who have never met authority figures at their worst, just the smiling ones who say have a nice day.
And because of that authority believe every word they say.
May say more about me than about them but I have seen the worst of them on dozens of occasions.
Including 3 police officers beating one innocent fan to a pulp with fists and boots, as he didn't run away with the rest of us, as in his mind he hadn't done anything wrong to run away for.(Which was true.) Then charging him with assault.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...Sunderland-ahead-Liverpool-game.html?ITO=1490

 

You read the comments Billy?
The numpty calling us Geordies.

 

Lol, missed that!

I think his heart was in the right place though.

 

True and he is an Expat.