Inquests of tragic Hillsborough fans are quashed

Published on 17/10/2012 02:24

FAMILIES of the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster are a step closer to justice after the 
Attorney General paved the way for fresh inquests, campaigners have said.

Dominic Grieve QC said he was taking the “exceptional course” of indicating that he will apply to quash the original accidental death verdicts 
before finishing his review of the 
evidence, to spare families the anxiety of further delay.

The move comes after a damning report into the disaster 23 years ago laid bare a cover-up which attempted to shift the blame for the tragedy on to its victims.

The Liverpool supporters died in the crush at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium on 15 April, 1989, where their team were to meet Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final.

Liverpool MP Steve Rotheram said the Attorney General’s 
decision “marks one of the 
biggest steps forward in the fight for justice for the families in 23 years”.

Some families have even 
refused to pick up the death 
certificates and the move raises the possibility of different verdicts “which the families have always believed should have reflected the unlawful killing of their loved ones”, he added.