The 96 Liverpool fans who died in the Hillsborough football stadium disaster were unlawfully killed, a jury found yesterday, blaming police for the worst tragedy in the history of British sport
Supporters are crushed against the barrier as disaster strikes before the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield on April 15, 1989. Ninety six Liverpool fans died in the incident.
Warrington (UK): The 96 Liverpool fans who died in the Hillsborough football stadium disaster were unlawfully killed, a jury found yesterday, blaming police for the worst tragedy in the history of British sport.
Supporters are crushed against the barrier as disaster strikes before the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield on April 15, 1989. Ninety six Liverpool fans died in the incident. Pics/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT
Following the longest-running inquest in English legal history, jurors concluded that policing decisions at the ill-fated match in 1989 "caused or contributed" to the deaths, and amounted to "gross negligence".
Relatives of the victims have fought a 27-year campaign to get to the heart of what happened during the disaster, and were angry at an initial inquest ruling the deaths were accidental. They emerged from the courtroom hugging and in tears, holding pictures of their loved ones and a scarf reading "JUSTICE".
Tributes are placed at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough Stadium yesterday after the verdict
They linked hands above their heads and sang the Liverpool Football Club anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone" and chanted "Justice for the 96".
Mary Corrigan, mother of Keith McGrath, who was only 18 when he died in the Hillsborough disaster, gets emotional yesterday
The Crown Prosecution Servic (CPS), England's state prosecutors, said it would now consider whether to bring criminal charges.
An emotional moment for the relatives of Hillsborough tragedy victims after the verdict
'Gross negligence'
The mammoth inquest, which began in March 2014, took place in a purpose-built courtroom in Warrington, outside Liverpool.
Relatives of Hillsborough victims console each other as they leave Birchwood Park after the hearing
Coroner John Goldring, who presided over the inquests, asked the nine-member jury to decide on 14 key points — with the issue of whether the victims were unlawfully killed the central question that caused them the most difficulty.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
