The families of the 97 people unlawfully killed in the Hillsborough disaster have expressed profound anger and a sense of betrayal, declaring they will never receive justice following the conclusion of a major police watchdog investigation.
Decades of Deception Uncovered
At a joint press conference held after the publication of an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) report, bereaved relatives condemned senior officers. They stated the police unlawfully killed 97 Liverpool supporters at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final and then embarked on a campaign to blame the victims.
Margaret Aspinall, mother of 18-year-old James, Charlotte Hennessy, daughter of 29-year-old Jimmy, Steve Kelly, brother of Michael, 38, and Sue Roberts, sister of Graham, 24, spoke with unified fury. They said the public will never know the full extent of South Yorkshire Police's deception.
The disaster occurred on 15 April 1989 at Sheffield Wednesday's ground. A fatal crush happened after police opened an exit gate to ease crowding but failed to direct fans away from a tunnel leading to already packed central pens. As fans lay dying, police falsely claimed late, drunk, and ticketless Liverpool supporters caused the tragedy.
Watchdog Findings Bring No Accountability
The long-awaited IOPC report concluded that 12 police officers would have faced gross misconduct hearings. However, due to the law at the time and the immense passage of time, no sanctions can or will be brought against them.
The families' lawyer, Nicola Brook, emphasised that no one will be held to account for what happened. She noted it took 36 years to reach these conclusions, years after other inquests, and that much of the evidence had been available throughout. Many relatives died waiting for the fresh inquests in 2016, which finally returned verdicts of unlawful killing.
Charlotte Hennessy praised the bravery of the survivors and thanked the IOPC, but said the report only confirmed what families had known for decades. She directly accused match commander David Duckenfield of being a liar and said that while the full scale of the police cover-up may never be known, their failure and victim-blaming is now undeniable.
A Relentless Fight for Change
Margaret Aspinall said the outcome made her really, really angry, while Steve Kelly argued the findings highlight a system that must change. No one should be beaten by the passage of time, he stated, demanding justice within a person's lifetime.
Sue Roberts found a small measure of satisfaction in the fact that officers guilty of misconduct have now been publicly named. However, Charlotte Hennessy stated unequivocally: We'll never get justice. Nobody's ever going to go to prison for killing them.
The families now turn their focus to securing the Hillsborough Law, currently progressing through Parliament. This proposed legislation would create a legal duty of candour on public authorities during official inquiries and investigations. Margaret Aspinall vowed to see the job through.
Additionally, Charlotte Hennessy called for former South Yorkshire Police Ch Supt Sir Norman Bettison to be stripped of his knighthood and Queen's Policing Medal. The IOPC found he would have faced two gross misconduct allegations, including dishonesty about his central role in the disaster's aftermath when applying to lead Merseyside Police.
