400,000 documents, 96 innocent lives and the heroes who never gave in – Justice has been served.
27 years ago the infamous front page of British publication, The S*n – titled ‘The Truth’, was published. Chief editor at the time, Kelvin Mackenzie, was responsible for instigating the spiral of events that were soon to follow and loom over Merseyside until rightful justice was finally served.
April 15th, 1989, marked an iconic day in British sporting history. 54,000 footballing fans attended an FA Cup semi-final clash between the Red half of Merseyside and European cup winners, Nottingham Forest. David Duckenfield, chief constable of South Yorkshire police, was assigned to the game – the man who would be responsible for witnessing 96 innocent fans die and doing nothing within his power to help.
Former South Yorkshire Police Chief David Duckenfield arrives to give evidence at the Hillsborough Inquest at the specially adapted office building in Birchwood Park on March 10, 2015 in Warrington, England. Mr Duckenfield, who was a chief superintendent in South Yorkshire Police in 1989, was the match commander on the day of the FA Cup semi-final where 96 Liverpool fans died on April 15, 1989.
Margret Aspinall and Anne Williams, 2 of the most influential mothers, leaders and heroes over the last 27 years. The reason that the campaign stood for so long, the reason that Mackenzie will carry the guilt and losses of 96 innoncent lives on his own 2 shoulders for the rest of his life.
‘I was denied a cuddle with my dead son’, the last words of Aspinall given in an interview as the Hillsborough enquiries came to an end. Margret lost her son in the tradgey and since started a campaign group with fellow Scousers who also lost family members in the event. The woman is a hero to many and an inspiration to others; anything you believe in is always worth fighting for regardless of the size of the opposition.
Anne Williams (a campaigner) played just as much of a role as Aspinall in the inquests and trying to gain rightful justice. She went on to become a recognised figure across Merseyside, a woman that many would instantly relate to when speaking about the events that took place in 1989. She, similarly to Margret, lost a son in the tradegy and in April 2013 passed away. The Iron Lady will long live on in the hearts of all Scousers as she watches down from the Heavens above knowing that everything she fought for came to a justified end.
PUTTING THE WRONG RIGHT – THE FINDINGS:
1 – ‘Was there any error or omission in police planning and preperation for the match, which caused or contributed to the dangerous situation that developed on the day of the match?’
Given asnwer – Yes.
2 – ‘Was there any error or omission in policing on the day which caused or contributed to a dangerous situation developing at Leppings Lane turnstiles?’
Given answer – Yes.
3 – ‘Was there any error or omission by commanding officers which caused or contributed to the crush?’
Given answer – Yes.
4 – ‘When the order was given to open the exit gates at the Leppings Lane end of the stadium, was there any error or omission by the commanding officers (Duckenfied and co) in the control box which caused or contributed to the crush of the terrace?’
Given answer – Yes.
5 – ‘Are you satisfied, so that you are sure, that those who died in the disaster were UNLAWFULLY killed?’
Given answer – Yes.
6 – ‘Was there any behavior ON THE PART OF FOOTBALL SUPPORTERS which caused or contributed to the dangerous situation at the turnstiles?’
Given answer – No.
7 – ‘If your answer is “no”, was there any behavior on the part of supporters which may have caused or contributed to the dangerous situation at the Leppings Lane turnstiles?’
Given answer – No.
8 – ‘Were there any features of the design, construction and layout of the stadium which you consider were dangerous or defective and which caused or contributed to the disaster?’
Given answer – Yes.
9 – ‘Was there any error omission by Sheffield Wednesday football club (and it’s staff) in the management of the stadium and/or preparation for the semi-final match on 15 April, 1989 which caused or contributed to the dangerous situation that developed on the day of the match?’
Given answer – Yes.
10 – ‘Was there any error or omission by SWFC (Sheffield Wednesday Football Club) and it’s staff, on 15 April, that caused or contributed to the dangerous situation in the day of the match?’
Given answer – No.
11 – ‘If no, was there any error or omission by SWFC and it’s staff on 15 April that may have caused or contributed to the dangerous situation that developed at the Leppings Lane turnstiles and in the West Terrace?’
Given answer – Yes.
12 – ‘Should Eastwood & partners (the club’s consultant engineers) have done more to detect and advise any unsafe or unsatisfactory features of Hillsborough stadium which caused or contributed to the disaster?’
Given answer – Yes.
13 – ‘After the crush in the West Terrace had begun to develop, was there any error or omission by the Police which caused or contributed to the loss of lives?’
Given answer – Yes.
14 –‘ After the crush in the West Terrace had begun to develop, was there nay error or omission by the ambulance service which caused or contributed to the loss of lives in the disaster?’
Given answer – Yes.
Based on all of the given answers, it has been found that fans had no contribution to the event that took place over 27 years ago and are indeed innocent as was already known, however overturned (at the time) by both David Duckenfield and Kelvin Mackenzie, the two who worked hand in hand to portray Liverpool fans as violent, non-humane animals, when the actual fact is – they never did anything wrong.
PAIN, AGONY AND A BAD IMAGE PAINTED OVER THE FACE OF BRITISH FOOTBALL COMES TO AN END IN THE PLACE IT ALL STARTED, LIVERPOOL.
GRAPHIC DESIGNER | UNIVERSITY OF CHESTER 