Glasgow council calls for Kenny Dalglish to be knighted

SCOTLAND'S largest local authority has called for Kenny Dalglish to receive a knighthood in recognition of his role in responding to the Hillsborough disaster.

Kenny Dalglish salutes the crowd after a Celtic v Liverpool charity match at Parkhead in aid of the Hillsborough Disaster Fund in April 1989.

Glasgow City Council today passed a motion praising the families of the victims for their campaign for justice and recognising the work of the former Celtic player.

Dalglish, who grew up in the Milton district in the north of the city, was Liverpool manager at the time of the 1989 tragedy when 96 fans were killed at an FA Cup semi-final.

He attended several funerals for the victims and became a vocal supporter of the campaign for a new inquest to reexamine the circumstances of the tragedy.

Last month a jury found the 96 fans had been killed ‘unlawfully’ following the longest inquiry in British judicial history.

The jury also found that match commander Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield, of South Yorkshire Police, was in breach of the duty of care he owed to the fans in the ground.

Councillor Frank McAveety, Glasgow City Council leader, said: “Kenny Dalglish is a legend of world football and is quite rightly held in the highest esteem in Glasgow, Liverpool and across the globe.

“However, the Hillsborough disaster transcended sport, and Kenny has played a central role with victims’ families in their quest for truth and justice.

“We believe that a knighthood would be a fitting recognition of this, as well as his services to the beautiful game.”

Dalglish enjoyed a celebrated playing career with Celtic, Liverpool and Scotland, becoming Liverpool player-manager in 1985.

He remains Scotland’s most capped player, having made 102 appearances for his country.

The council motion, proposed by Councillor Archie Graham, depute council leader, said: “The council welcomes the findings of the Hillsborough Inquest, which concluded the 96 football supporters who lost their lives at Hillsborough were unlawfully killed; recognises this as a monumental step in achieving justice for the victims; congratulates the Hillsborough families for their tireless campaign, the people of Liverpool for the support they have given the families and pays tribute to Glasgow’s Kenny Dalglish who stood shoulder to shoulder with the people of Liverpool and played a critical role in supporting the campaign for truth and justice.”