Justice for the 96

Day -778 WorldCup2018.

April 15th 1989 was a horrible day for football fans, especially those of Liverpool. The families of the 96 victims of the tragic events at Hillsborough who never saw their loved ones come home from watching a football match had to deal with that incredible, sudden loss. On top of that they endured years of suffering, of being told that fellow Liverpool supporters, through their unruly violent behaviour, were to blame for their deaths. For 27 years the families fought for justice for the 96. Today they got it. The verdict of the inquests into the disaster ruled the fans were unlawfully killed as a result of police errors and that Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield, the match commander that day, was "responsible for manslaughter by gross negligence".

I remember that day well. It was early days of live coverage of English football in Malta, on a new Italian channel. Not being fans of Italian commentary, and the reception wasn't the best, my Dad and I had decided to watch the recorded version later, with the "proper" English commentary. While we were watching something else, I had the urge to switch it over to the football. My Dad was none too pleased as "now you're going to spoil it for us", but it was at the moment that fans were beginning to spill onto the pitch. Our initial thoughts were, "hooligans again". But it quickly became apparent that this was something else. The fans on the pitch were the lucky ones, escaping the carnage unfolding up against the fences in the stands. BBC World Service told us that 10 had died, then 20, 30. And up and up it went. It was a Saturday afternoon unlike no other listening for news and results from the English football.

Over the years after 1989 I watched news and documentaries about the disaster. I was moved by memorials and the tragic stories. It was emotional watching Liverpool fans singing for justice for the 96 at matches around the anniversary, and the powerful renditions of "You'll Never Walk Alone". This year when Liverpool played Borussia Dortmund, close to the anniversary, both fans joined together in singing the Liverpool anthem.

But there was one moment that stood out for me. At the 20th memorial ceremony, Andy Burnham, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, was interrupted by an impromptu chant of "Justice for the 96". It started with one voice but grew to an impassioned plea by all those present. Something about the rawness of it, it being so unscripted and passionate, made it really hit home how affected these Liverpool supporters were by not only what had happened at Hillsborough but by what they had had to endure afterwards. It was bigger than fans supporting their team. The cry for justice would not stop until they got it.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z3mBIi084Q