Hillsborough disaster reaction: Jury concludes fans unlawfully killed

Liverpool FC
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Hillsborough tribute

A jury has concluded that the 96 fans that died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster were unlawfully killed.

Seven of the nine jury members concluded that the 96 victims were unlawfully killed at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in Sheffield 27 years ago, with police failures leading to their deaths while the behaviour of supporters was determined not to have contributed to the dangerous situation.

Having spent nine days considering a 14-section questionnaire, the jury reached unanimous conclusions on the 13 questions relating to the tragedy with families of the victims seen hugging each other in emotional scenes in the public gallery.

Hillsborough disaster inquest verdict:
(Pay special attention to Q6 & 7)

Q1) Do you agree with the following statement which is intended to summarise the basic facts of the disaster: “Ninety-six people died as a result of the Disaster at Hillsborough Stadium on 15 April 1989 due to crushing in the central pens of the Leppings Lane terrace, following the admission of a large number of supporters to the Stadium through exit gates.”

Jury’s verdict) YES

Q2) Was there any error or omission in police planning and preparation for the semi-final on April 15, 1989, which caused or contributed to the dangerous situation that developed on the day of the match?

Jury’s verdict) YES

Q3) Was there any error or omission in policing on the day of the match which caused or contributed to a dangerous situation developing at the Leppings Lane turnstiles?

Jury’s verdict) YES

Q4) Was there any error or omission by commanding officers which caused or contributed to the crush on the terrace?

Jury’s verdict) YES

Q5) 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 in the control box which caused or contributed to the crush on the terrace?

Jury’s verdict) YES

Q6) Are you satisfied, so that you are sure, that those who died in the disaster were unlawfully killed?

Jury’s verdict) YES
*Cheers and applause in the courtroom*

Q7) Was there any behaviour on the part of the football supporters which caused or contributed to the dangerous situation at the Leppings Lane turnstiles?”

Jury’s verdict) NO
*Cheers and applause in the courtroom*

Q8) 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?

Jury’s verdict) YES

Q9) Was there any error or omission in the safety certification and oversight of Hillsborough Stadium that caused or contributed to the disaster?

Jury’s verdict) YES

Q10) Was there any error or omission by Sheffield Wednesday and its staff in the management of the stadium and/or preparation for the semi-final match on April 15, 1989, which caused or contributed to the dangerous situation that developed on the day of the match?

Jury’s verdict) YES

Q11) Was there any error or omission by Sheffield Wednesday and its staff on April 15, 1989, which caused or contributed to the dangerous situation that developed at the Leppings Lane turnstiles and in the west terrace?

Jury’s verdict) NO

Q12) Should Eastwood and Partners (structural engineers) have done more to detect and advise on any unsafe or unsatisfactory features of Hillsborough Stadium which caused or contributed to the disaster?

Jury’s verdict) YES

Q13) 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 in the disaster?

Jury’s verdict) YES

Q14) After the crush in the west terrace had begun to develop, was there any error or omission by the ambulance service (SYMAS) which caused or contributed to the loss of lives in the disaster?

Jury’s verdict) YES