CABINET records of documents and discussions in the aftermath of the 1989 Hillsborough football stadium disaster have been ordered for release. The Information Commissioner Christopher Graham revealed yesterday that he felt that it was in the public interest for this information to be released.
Under the 2000 Freedom of Information Act, the government now has either 35 days to release the records or 28 days to appeal the decision. 95 Liverpool fans were crushed to death on the terraces of Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium while watching the early stages of an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. The 96th victim, Tony Bland, died from his injuries in 1993.
Campaigners have welcomed the decision to release the files, including Anne Williams, who lost her 15-year old son Kevin in the tragedy. She told BBC News; “This is good news. I’m very surprised. I thought the government would block it. At least now, we may get to the truth.”
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The files are believed to include reports relating to Hillsborough that were provided to Margaret Thatcher. Also expected are discussions between her and the then Home Secretary, Douglas Hurd and minutes of meetings she attended. Chairman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, Margaret Aspinall is angry that more information wasn’t released; she told the official LFC website “We have always wanted to see the minutes of Mrs. Thatcher’s meetings, but when we asked, we were always told there were no minutes taken.” “I find it quite strange that now the minutes are going to be released. Yet again, I feel we have been lied to.”
After 22 years of false hope, untruthful allegations from tabloid newspapers and an inquest that was a massive miscarriage of justice, the truth of what happened on that sunny day at Hillsborough which turned into such a nightmare on April 15, 1989 might finally be revealed. This document order means the families can feel there’s a massive step forward in the long-standing fight for justice.
