So the truth is finally out, it confirms what many of us football fans knew all along, that the 96 Liverpool fans who died at Hillsborough, were unlawfully killed.
They and their families have at long last got justice.
The bad policing of the South Yorkshire Police, and in particular Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield was found to be responsible for death by gross negligence, and one can never forget the disgraceful headlines in the Sun newspaper at the time attempting to blame the fans. This has now been proved to be all lies, and the fans have been vindicated.
One other contributory factor to the deaths was the fencing around the ground, which prevented fans escaping to safety away from the crush. All grounds had such fencing. I campaigned for the removal of the fencing at Burnden Park, former home of Bolton Wanderers. These were later removed on all grounds after the review by Lord Justice Taylor.
The Thatcher government at the time viewed football fans with suspicion, and indeed tried to introduce ID cards for supporters, which was resisted and defeated by fans.
Now that truth and Justice has prevailed, what the 96 fans and their families deserve is accountability from the authorities responsible for the 96 deaths.
Alan Johnson
Green Party Candidate
Rumworth Ward
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