Hillsborough: Searching For The Truth
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Anne Williams @annewilliams96
I am hoping to attend the High court hearing next wednesday. hopefully to hear the original Accidental Death verdict struck off JUSTICE.
Anne Williams @annewilliams96
: I now believe I'll live to see justice for the 96 (VIDEO) - Hillsborough News - Hillsborough - News http
I am hoping to attend the High court hearing next wednesday. hopefully to hear the original Accidental Death verdict struck off JUSTICE.
33m
Anne Williams : I now believe I'll live to see justice for the 96 (VIDEO) - Hillsborough News - Hillsborough - News http
Well in all involved. Hard work, self-belief and never giving up. Must be a bitter-sweet day for them all.
David Conn @david_conn
Lord Chief Justice: "Notwithstanding its falsity, the tendency to blame the fans (for Hillsborough) was disappointingly tenacious.
Lord Chief Justice "Throughout (all these years) there has been a profound almost palpable belief that justice has not been done."
"We record our admiration (for the families' battle for the truth) and our regret the process has been so dispiriting and prolonged."
Lord Chief Justice: "Notwithstanding its falsity, the tendency to blame the fans (for Hillsborough) was disappointingly tenacious.
Lord Chief Justice "Throughout (all these years) there has been a profound almost palpable belief that justice has not been done."
"We record our admiration (for the families' battle for the truth) and our regret the process has been so dispiriting and prolonged."
The government will pay the legal costs incurred by the families of Hillsborough disaster victims at new inquests into their deaths.
New inquests were ordered after the original accidental death verdicts were quashed at the High Court on Wednesday.
Commons leader Andrew Lansley said the government would "provide funding for bereaved families at fresh inquests".
Margaret Aspinall of the Hillsborough Family Support Group said she was "delighted" with the decision.
Mr Lansley made the pledge after shadow Commons leader Angela Eagle said the families would "have to meet expensive legal costs to ensure they are adequately represented at the new inquests".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-20797318
New inquests were ordered after the original accidental death verdicts were quashed at the High Court on Wednesday.
Commons leader Andrew Lansley said the government would "provide funding for bereaved families at fresh inquests".
Margaret Aspinall of the Hillsborough Family Support Group said she was "delighted" with the decision.
Mr Lansley made the pledge after shadow Commons leader Angela Eagle said the families would "have to meet expensive legal costs to ensure they are adequately represented at the new inquests".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-20797318
Great result
Irvine Patnick has died. What a shame.
No doubt when the obituaries are written his role in the smearing of Liverpool and it's fans will be conveniently forgotten.
This and the "Plebgate" fiasco will have dented that more than just a bit.
Agreed. I also think that the former freedoms enjoyed by the middle classes - to drive home from the pub after a few beers, not bother with the seat belt and so-on - have been curtailed by legislation which the police have been required to enforce. Thus the middle classes no longer live in Teletubby-land where the police were their friends.
Anne Williams @annewilliams96
Happy New year to everyone, its been a good year for Justice thanks to the Hills panel, Andy Burnham MP, Steve Rotherham MP Maria Eagle MP.
Happy New year to everyone, its been a good year for Justice thanks to the Hills panel, Andy Burnham MP, Steve Rotherham MP Maria Eagle MP.
HMV administrators Deloitte today confirmed that all proceeds from the sale of 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother' will go to the Hillsborough families' fight for justice.
Liverpool Walton MP Steve Rotheram contacted the administrators last Friday to ensure all money made from the sale of the charity single would go to the families.
After weeks of campaigning and promoting, The Justice Collective's cover of the Hollies' classic edged tough competition, including X Factor winner James Arthur, to clinch the Christmas No.1 spot.
And today it was announced that money raised through sales of the track at the entertainment firm would be safeguarded.
Joint administrator Nick Edwards said: "I can confirm that all money raised by HMV for various charities will be paid in full."
21st Jan 2013
After weeks of campaigning and promoting, The Justice Collective's cover of the Hollies' classic edged tough competition, including X Factor winner James Arthur, to clinch the Christmas No.1 spot.
And today it was announced that money raised through sales of the track at the entertainment firm would be safeguarded.
Joint administrator Nick Edwards said: "I can confirm that all money raised by HMV for various charities will be paid in full."
21st Jan 2013
Hillsborough mum Anne Williams nominated for prestigious Woman of the Year award
Read more: Liverpool Echohttp://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2013/01/28/hillsborough-mum-anne-williams-nominated-for-prestigious-woman-of-the-year-award-100252-32699508/#ixzz2JIuAST7h
- Dan Kay
Anne Williams
HILLSBOROUGH mum Anne Williams has been nominated for a prestigious national award celebrating inspirational women.
Mrs Williams, a shining light in the 23-year battle for justice after losing 15-year-old son Kevin in 1989, is among the ‘Women of Achievement’ at the Women of the Year event to be held in Park Lane, London later this year.
The awards, which have been running since 1955, salute women who have displayed courage, dedication and achievement with previous winners including Doreen Lawrence, Annie Lennox, Ellen McArthur and Dame Vera Lynn.
Anne said, “I’m a bit overwhelmed really. I received a letter from Baroness Helen Kennedy congratulating me for what she called my ceaseless campaigning over Hillsborough and I had to read it through a couple of times to take it all in.
“I’ve always had Kevin in some form of legal avenue for the last 23 years and always felt his case could open the floodgates for the others.
“2012 was such an important year for me after all those knockbacks so, after getting the news about the inquests just before Christmas, it’s pleasing to get the new year off to a good start with this nomination. I feel very honoured.”
As she waits for the new inquest into her son’s death that she has campaigned for over two decades to see, Anne, 61 and battling terminal cancer, is currently in the process of writing new chapters for her book, which details her long quest for the truth and is set to republished later this year.
“I’ve got quite good quality of the life at the moment. Some days I feel wonderful, other days not so great but thankfully I’ve got wonderful family and friends who are so supportive to me.
“I am enjoying updating my book, When You Walk Through The Storm, which was published all the way back in 1999 and, getting back to writing in recent months, it makes my blood boil that all the evidence was there for so long, only to be ignored by the system.
“I was lucky in a way to uncover the evidence I did and to find all the people who tended to Kevin on that dreadful day.
“The Accidental Death verdict has been quashed but the families, survivors and everyone involved in Hillsborough still need to see justice.
“We don’t want any more cover ups. I hope all government bodies involved in the investigation do their job properly and leave no stone unturned.”
* Vote for Anne via email to enquiries@womenoftheyear.co.uk
Read more: Liverpool Echohttp://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2013/01/28/hillsborough-mum-anne-williams-nominated-for-prestigious-woman-of-the-year-award-100252-32699508/#ixzz2JIuAST7h
I don't have the words for just how much admiration that I have for those people who lost their loved ones and then had to wait 23 years to hear that it wasn't their own fault!
Mrs. Williams lost her son, then waged that battle, and now she comes down with cancer, and still she goes on. Mr. Hicks lost his two daughters, and then his marraige. How did he find the strength to go on..? Every time I see him, I think of how I'd handle what happened to him, and I keep coming back to the same answer... I just couldn't. I would have nothing else to live for.
When Amy walked out, at times I though that I'd not get through it... I loved her so much - Still do, truth be told. And she left. But that's a wife... That's a choice I made to love somebody. Eventually, the day will come when I don't think of her, don't miss her. The day will come when it doesn't hurt to see her, or here her name. But children are another level of love completely... It's not a choice. The day will NEVER come when you'd stop thinking of your kids, stop missing them, stop wishing it could have been them and not you. I don't know what got that poor man out of bed every day for 23 years. I'd have given up on April 16th, 1989. What an inspiration.
I can't listen to YNWA without tearing up since 1989. If I try to sing it, I can't get more than a word or two in, without starting to break up. Now 'He Ain't Heavy' does the same thing to me... Those poor, poor people.
Those strong, brave, dignified, so-much-better-than me people.
YNWA Mrs. Williams, Mr. Hicks and everybody else.
Mrs. Williams lost her son, then waged that battle, and now she comes down with cancer, and still she goes on. Mr. Hicks lost his two daughters, and then his marraige. How did he find the strength to go on..? Every time I see him, I think of how I'd handle what happened to him, and I keep coming back to the same answer... I just couldn't. I would have nothing else to live for.
When Amy walked out, at times I though that I'd not get through it... I loved her so much - Still do, truth be told. And she left. But that's a wife... That's a choice I made to love somebody. Eventually, the day will come when I don't think of her, don't miss her. The day will come when it doesn't hurt to see her, or here her name. But children are another level of love completely... It's not a choice. The day will NEVER come when you'd stop thinking of your kids, stop missing them, stop wishing it could have been them and not you. I don't know what got that poor man out of bed every day for 23 years. I'd have given up on April 16th, 1989. What an inspiration.
I can't listen to YNWA without tearing up since 1989. If I try to sing it, I can't get more than a word or two in, without starting to break up. Now 'He Ain't Heavy' does the same thing to me... Those poor, poor people.
Those strong, brave, dignified, so-much-better-than me people.
YNWA Mrs. Williams, Mr. Hicks and everybody else.
South Yorkshire's chief constable accused a group representing Hillsborough Disaster victims and their families of lying, it has emerged.
David Crompton made the comments in an email days before the publication of the Hillsborough report in September.
He said the families' "version of certain events has become 'the truth' even though it isn't".
Mr Crompton apologised for any offence caused but has not specified what falsehoods he was referring to.
Mr Crompton emailed the force's Assistant Chief Constable Andy Holt and head of media Mark Thompson on 8 September, four days before the Hillsborough Independent Panel Report was released.
The email has been released by the county's police and crime commissioner, Shaun Wright, following a Freedom of Information request.
'We'll be roadkill'
In the email, Mr Crompton asked for a meeting with Mr Holt and Mr Thompson to discuss launching a web page about Hillsborough with links to documents including previous apologies and memos.
He said: "We then publicise it on Twitter. In effect it amounts to the case for the defence.
"One thing is certain - the Hillsborough Campaign for Justice will be doing their version... in fact their version of certain events has become 'the truth' even though it isn't.
"I just have the feeling that the media 'machine' favours the families and not us, so we need to be a bit more innovative in our response to have a fighting chance otherwise we will just be roadkill."
The email was released by the new police and crime commissioner
Police Commissioner Wright said he had informed the Independent Police Complaints Commission and the home secretary of the existence of the email and was "disappointed at the use of such language".
In a statement, Mr Crompton said: "It was never intended to cause any offence and I apologise if it has done so.
"Nor was it intended to challenge the integrity and views of those who lost loved ones in the Hillsborough disaster.
"Following the publication of the panel's report I said in the most forthright terms that I supported the findings and that is still my position."
The BBC asked South Yorkshire Police what Mr Crompton's intentions were at the time he wrote the email and what he thought the families had been untruthful about, but was told he was unavailable for further comment.
Margaret Aspinall, who lost her son James at Hillsborough, said: "I think it's an absolute disgrace.
"We have been used to nasty comments in the past anyway so it doesn't surprise me whatsoever."
She said she did not accept Mr Crompton's apology.
What a twat
Liverpool Echo @LivEchonews4m
BREAKING: Hillsborough inquests to be held in London on April 25 - full story to follow
HILLSBOROUGH: Some more clarity on this. It's a pre-inquest hearing on April 25. It will be held in London, with a video link back to Liverpoo
BREAKING: Hillsborough inquests to be held in London on April 25 - full story to follow
HILLSBOROUGH: Some more clarity on this. It's a pre-inquest hearing on April 25. It will be held in London, with a video link back to Liverpoo
Cheers Livvy
Hillsborough coroner Dr Stefan Popper to be questioned over ordering alcohol checks
THE coroner who conducted the original Hillsborough inquests will be questioned to establish what contact he had with police officers and why he ordered checks on the blood alcohol levels of those who died. The quizzing of Dr Stefan Popper (pictured below) – expected in August – is revealed in a letter to victims’ families from the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
In the letter, the IPCC also revealed it expects its probe into the deaths of the 96 Liverpool fans at Hillsborough and the subsequent police cover-up will take more than two years.
The IPCC outlined the timetable of their investigations and details of when police officers will be questioned and the progress of the inquiry.
Jon Stoddart, the former Durham chief constable whose criminal probe into the 1989 disaster is running alongside the IPCC inquiry, has told families his investigation will also take two to three years.
The ECHO can today exclusively reveal:
The IPCC is in the process of securing material held by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and others;
Former Merseyside chief constable Norman Bettison could be quizzed by investigators as early as May;
The IPCC has already secured all evidential material held by South Yorkshire Police.
All material secured will be transferred from a current major incident room to a new investigation building at Warrington once it is complete.
No contemporaneous documents were disclosed to the Hillsborough Independent Panel concerning the briefing given to then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and the Home Secretary the morning after the disaster at the 1989 FA Cup semi- final.
Cabinet papers did reveal that in an exchange about the Taylor report into the tragedy, Mrs Thatcher expressed her concern that the “broad thrust” constituted “devastating criticism of the police”.
The ECHO can also reveal that the IPCC has appointed Mike Benbow, its director of quality and standards, as director for the Hillsborough investigation.
Mr Benbow set out the investigation plan, including updated terms of reference, in the 10-page document sent to families on Friday.
In his letter, he explained that the IPCC has now secured all evidential material in possession of South Yorkshire Police, whose discredited original investigation sought to blame fans for the tragedy.
Although the IPCC has been carrying out preliminary work, the plan sets out next month as the effective start-date of the probe – the biggest in the organisation’s history.
Mr Benbow also set out that the IPCC will consider preliminary interviews with members of the “Wain investigation” as early as May.
Former Merseyside chief constable Norman Bettison was part of the team that helped write the “Wain Report”, which placed significant emphasis on ticketless fans, alcohol and crowd behaviour.
The IPCC is examining whether the “Wain Report” gave an “accurate and complete picture”.
It is the first time a timetable has been outlined and it is of crucial importance as it may have an impact on the new inquests that will be held into the deaths.
Elkan Abrahamson, who represents a number of families from the Hillsborough Justice Campaign, said Mr Stoddart had told families in a meeting about a month ago that he expected his investigation to take between two and three years. He said: “The view of the families is that they want this done quickly after waiting 24 years, but they don’t want it done sloppily. I would describe the families as frustrated yet patient.” The IPCC has agreed to set up a “challenge panel” to be privy to the innermost workings of the investigation. But it is yet to be established.
Mr Abrahamson said there was disagreement with the IPCC, which wants to make panel members sign a confidentiality clause.
“Without public scrutiny, this can’t be effective.
“If we can’t have public scrutiny, there is no point in having it.”
On April 25, Lord Justice Goldring, who is coroner to the new inquests, will conduct a pre-inquest hearing where he will listen to submissions about the possible location and timings for the new inquests.
The new inquest was made possible by the historic quashing of the “accidental death” verdicts in the High Court last December.
That followed the findings of the Hillsborough Independent Panel which cast series question marks over the validity of many of the medical claims made at the original inquest, including the highly controversial 3.15pm cut- off point for evidence used by Dr Popper.
Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer has previously told the ECHO that he sees no reason why the investigations cannot run in tandem with the inquest to avoid any further delays.
“The [IPCC] plan may change subject to any views or requirements of the coroner,” explained Mr Benbow in his letter.
“Due to its complexity and based on what is currently known, the overall investigation is likely to take two years from the time the inquiry is fully established to completion.
“Where possible, preliminary interviews will be carried out with key individuals. However, any interviews of those individuals who form part of the IPCC independent investigation, the Jon Stoddart investigation and the coroner’s investigation, will have to be carefully coordinated.”
He said progress would be reviewed after six months, which would allow him and Mr Stoddart to provide more accurate timescales for each part of the investigations and realistic completion plans.
The IPCC launched its investigation after the full scale of the police cover-up in the wake of the 1989 Sheffield FA Cup semi-final disaster was revealed in September by the independent panel.
It is broadly looking at the aftermath of the disaster – but will also examine the role of South Yorkshire police leading up to the tragedy.
It will probe the role of up to 2,444 police officers involved in the disaster and its aftermath.
The independent panel revealed the statements of 164 police officers were amended to shift blame away from police onto fans.
Read more: Liverpool Echo http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...#ixzz2OYL1vjkj
THE coroner who conducted the original Hillsborough inquests will be questioned to establish what contact he had with police officers and why he ordered checks on the blood alcohol levels of those who died. The quizzing of Dr Stefan Popper (pictured below) – expected in August – is revealed in a letter to victims’ families from the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
In the letter, the IPCC also revealed it expects its probe into the deaths of the 96 Liverpool fans at Hillsborough and the subsequent police cover-up will take more than two years.
The IPCC outlined the timetable of their investigations and details of when police officers will be questioned and the progress of the inquiry.
Jon Stoddart, the former Durham chief constable whose criminal probe into the 1989 disaster is running alongside the IPCC inquiry, has told families his investigation will also take two to three years.
The ECHO can today exclusively reveal:
The IPCC is in the process of securing material held by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and others;
Former Merseyside chief constable Norman Bettison could be quizzed by investigators as early as May;
The IPCC has already secured all evidential material held by South Yorkshire Police.
All material secured will be transferred from a current major incident room to a new investigation building at Warrington once it is complete.
No contemporaneous documents were disclosed to the Hillsborough Independent Panel concerning the briefing given to then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and the Home Secretary the morning after the disaster at the 1989 FA Cup semi- final.
Cabinet papers did reveal that in an exchange about the Taylor report into the tragedy, Mrs Thatcher expressed her concern that the “broad thrust” constituted “devastating criticism of the police”.
The ECHO can also reveal that the IPCC has appointed Mike Benbow, its director of quality and standards, as director for the Hillsborough investigation.
Mr Benbow set out the investigation plan, including updated terms of reference, in the 10-page document sent to families on Friday.
In his letter, he explained that the IPCC has now secured all evidential material in possession of South Yorkshire Police, whose discredited original investigation sought to blame fans for the tragedy.
Although the IPCC has been carrying out preliminary work, the plan sets out next month as the effective start-date of the probe – the biggest in the organisation’s history.
Mr Benbow also set out that the IPCC will consider preliminary interviews with members of the “Wain investigation” as early as May.
Former Merseyside chief constable Norman Bettison was part of the team that helped write the “Wain Report”, which placed significant emphasis on ticketless fans, alcohol and crowd behaviour.
The IPCC is examining whether the “Wain Report” gave an “accurate and complete picture”.
It is the first time a timetable has been outlined and it is of crucial importance as it may have an impact on the new inquests that will be held into the deaths.
Elkan Abrahamson, who represents a number of families from the Hillsborough Justice Campaign, said Mr Stoddart had told families in a meeting about a month ago that he expected his investigation to take between two and three years. He said: “The view of the families is that they want this done quickly after waiting 24 years, but they don’t want it done sloppily. I would describe the families as frustrated yet patient.” The IPCC has agreed to set up a “challenge panel” to be privy to the innermost workings of the investigation. But it is yet to be established.
Mr Abrahamson said there was disagreement with the IPCC, which wants to make panel members sign a confidentiality clause.
“Without public scrutiny, this can’t be effective.
“If we can’t have public scrutiny, there is no point in having it.”
On April 25, Lord Justice Goldring, who is coroner to the new inquests, will conduct a pre-inquest hearing where he will listen to submissions about the possible location and timings for the new inquests.
The new inquest was made possible by the historic quashing of the “accidental death” verdicts in the High Court last December.
That followed the findings of the Hillsborough Independent Panel which cast series question marks over the validity of many of the medical claims made at the original inquest, including the highly controversial 3.15pm cut- off point for evidence used by Dr Popper.
Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer has previously told the ECHO that he sees no reason why the investigations cannot run in tandem with the inquest to avoid any further delays.
“The [IPCC] plan may change subject to any views or requirements of the coroner,” explained Mr Benbow in his letter.
“Due to its complexity and based on what is currently known, the overall investigation is likely to take two years from the time the inquiry is fully established to completion.
“Where possible, preliminary interviews will be carried out with key individuals. However, any interviews of those individuals who form part of the IPCC independent investigation, the Jon Stoddart investigation and the coroner’s investigation, will have to be carefully coordinated.”
He said progress would be reviewed after six months, which would allow him and Mr Stoddart to provide more accurate timescales for each part of the investigations and realistic completion plans.
The IPCC launched its investigation after the full scale of the police cover-up in the wake of the 1989 Sheffield FA Cup semi-final disaster was revealed in September by the independent panel.
It is broadly looking at the aftermath of the disaster – but will also examine the role of South Yorkshire police leading up to the tragedy.
It will probe the role of up to 2,444 police officers involved in the disaster and its aftermath.
The independent panel revealed the statements of 164 police officers were amended to shift blame away from police onto fans.
Read more: Liverpool Echo http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...#ixzz2OYL1vjkj
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-21963343
Just in case we didn't already know it, within this article is the reason that the coward that is, "Sir" Norman Bettison retired so quickly late last year.
All with his nice cushy little pension. An utter, utter farce.
Just in case we didn't already know it, within this article is the reason that the coward that is, "Sir" Norman Bettison retired so quickly late last year.
All with his nice cushy little pension. An utter, utter farce.
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