96 Hillsborough fans unlawfully killed, inquests conclude
The jury had to answer 14 questions about the cause of the 1989 disaster
Jurors answered "yes" when asked whether any police error caused or contributed to a dangerous situation
The behaviour of Liverpool fans did not contribute to the dangerous situation at the turnstiles
South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable David Crompton apologises "unreservedly" to the families and says his force accepts jury's conclusion
Andy Kershaw
BBC Radio Sheffield News
I was at the Police Headquarters for South Yorkshire Police in Carbrook House, Sheffield, earlier.
Chief Constable David Crompton said: "Very many lessons have been learned in the way major sporting events are policed."
Listen to the full statement here:
South Yorkshire Police statement following Hillsborough verdicts
Lawyers who led the legal team representing some of the families said the disaster was "entirely avoidable"; it was "no accident" and "no natural phenomenon" but was "caused by catastrophic human failure" - above all by the police.
"The families were then subjected to lies by senior officers covering up their role, vile abuse in parts of the media, and a campaign to blame supporters", a statement said.
"What we have witnessed is public authorities led by people who put defence of the institution over the truth, over learning for the future and over serving the public. We have witnessed a 'culture of denial' writ large."
Trevor Hicks, who lost two daughters Sarah and Vicki in the Hillsborough disaster, says he has been 'robbed' of family moments.
Hillsborough campaigner Trevor Hicks on impact of disaster
Scottish novelist Irvine Welsh, who wrote Trainspotting, says the dead fans were not the only people slurred after the tragedy.
Allow YouTube content?
This article contains content provided by Google YouTube. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Google’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Photographs of the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster are on display on the wall as family members attend a Hillsborough Justice Campaign Press Conference.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesLawyers representing some of the families say the jury's conclusions have "vindicated the long, long journey" in which the families have "striven tirelessly" to obtain the truth, obtain justice and make those responsible accountable.
They were speaking at a press conference held by the families of those who died in the Hillsborough disaster.
Image source, GettyA statement read at the conference said their struggle was only necessary "because of the gross negligence of senior police officers and the concerted attempts to cover up responsibility for the disaster."
Respect was paid to the families for their "dignity and tenacity" and lawyer Pete Weatherby said "the fact that so many family members have died before justice could be reached is a bitter reminder of just how hard the road has been".
Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police, David Crompton, has said South Yorkshire Police "got the policing of the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough catastrophically wrong".
He said the disaster "changed the way in which major sporting events are policed and many lessons have been learnt" and as a result, "it is almost impossible to imagine how the same set of circumstances could arise again".
He said the force "will now take time to carefully reflect on the implications of the verdicts" and their "thoughts are with" the families today.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Now the Hillsborough inquests have concluded, the police watchdog said it was focusing on the criminal investigation into the disaster.
Rachel Cerfontyne, deputy chair of the Independent Police Complaints Commissioner said: “Now the inquests have ended our role in providing documents and other material to support the Coroner is over.
"However the end of the inquests does not mark the end of the process.Our attention now focuses on concluding our criminal investigation into the aftermath of the disaster."
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Liverpool FC issues its response to the Hillsborough Inquests' conclusions.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The jury were called back into court to sign the 96 records of the inquest.
The coroner asks that only the seven jurors who were in agreement in respect of question 6 - the unlawful killing question - should sign them.
Court is then adjourned until 16:00.
The man in charge of the criminal inquiry into the Hillsborough disaster has said his "sole focus" is now on completing the investigation, hopefully by the end of the year.
Assistant Commissioner Jon Stoddart, who is leading Operation Resolve, said his investigators had supported Coroner Sir John Goldring by providing him with thousands of documents, witness statements and reports alongside the criminal investigation.
He said the Crown Prosecution Service will then consider the evidence and decide whether any individual or organisation should face criminal prosecution.
Lawyers representing some of the families said the disaster was caused by failure "of [Sheffield Wednesday FC], the engineers and the licensing authorities" to ensure a safe stadium, "failure of the ambulance service to react competently" and above all "catastrophic policing failure".
"The families and all of us in the general public deserved better", said Marcia Stewart, who led the legal team, adding: "We hope the conduct of the public authorities will be given the greatest scrutiny in the coming days and weeks."
One of the most high-profile campaigners in securing the new inquests was Anne Williams, who lost her son Kevin. She died in 2013, at the age of 62, of cancer.
Her brother Danny Gordon, who blames her illness on the disaster, says she was an amazing woman. He said: "She couldn't leave it alone, she had to... We lost 96 but there are others who died prematurely because of Hillsborough."
"She kept digging, she kept digging and digging and digging," he added. "Every avenue she went to it was closed off and she found another avenue.
"There's time when I am sure she felt like giving up. Without Anne really there would be no case, there would be no fight. It would've gone away. Anne kept it going".
The mother of a 17-year-old Hillsborough victim said she does not accept the apology from South Yorkshire Police.
Image source, PAMary Corrigan, whose son Keith McGrath was one of the 96 who died in the disaster, said: "They have had 27 years to tell us the truth.and to say what happened.
"We have had to fight so many lies and they have the nerve to say they apologise today."
Jenny Cork
BBC Sheffield news
Bassetlaw's Labour MP John Mann has called for South Yorkshire Police to be disbanded following the verdicts at the Hillsborough inquest.
He has praised officers currently working at the force and says they deserve a "fresh start".
He then gives two options for the future of the force:
Quote MessageThere are two clear options to bring this about – either by creating a police force based on Sheffield City Region or a merger with West Yorkshire Police."
John Mann, Labour MP, Bassetlaw