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Kenny Dalglish on the Hillsborough disaster papers

Kenny Dalglish on the Hillsborough disaster papers

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has spoken about the debate earlier this week which saw the House of Commons pass a motion that all documents relating to the Hillsborough disaster should be released.

“I didn’t see any reason why they would be prevented from getting what they wanted.” He told The Daily Mail.

“It is a fantastic success for the families, it is a huge step forward for them… …Andy Burnham came up two years ago and said that he would try to push this forward and he has kept to his word. Steve Rotheram is the local MP who has pushed it forward.”

In a debate, which lasted over four hours, the House of Commons passed a motion unopposed to allow all the documents concerning the disaster be made public. The Home Secretary Theresa May said the coalition government was committed to disclosing the full facts surrounding the 1989 tragedy, which claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool fans.

“A lot of people have done brilliantly for the families. All they want is some closure on it.” Kenny Dalglish told The Daily Mail, adding, “I don’t know how long it will take to go through the papers but I don’t think the speed is the most important thing. I think care and attention to the detail is the most important thing.”

The disaster happened on April 15th 1989 at the football stadium of Sheffield Wednesday. A human crush occurred due to, as the official enquiry stated, “the failure of police control.” The result was that many thousands of fans continued to enter the stand via a narrow tunnel at the rear of the terrace and into the two already overcrowded central pens, which caused a huge crush at the front of the terrace.

Hundreds of people were pressed against one-another and against the front fencing by the weight of the crowd behind them. The people entering were unaware of the problems at the front. Fences had been added to stadiums in the UK following widespread Hooliganism throughout the 1970s. While the fences had stemmed pitch invasions and other anit-social behaviour towards players, it made it difficult for an easy escape during emergencies as highlighted when a stand at Bradford City’s Valley Parade stadium caught fire killing 56.

Usually Government documents are not made public until 30 years have passed, however a long campaign by the families of the 96 to find out the whole story, and possibly a deeper truth, has now seen the documents made public eight years early.

“I think people everywhere wanted to see and I think it’s appropriate that they get to see the papers that are there… …They put the e-poll online and within an hour and a half there were 140,000 signatures.

“It tells you this isn’t just about Liverpool Football Club or the families that supported Liverpool, this is about football.” Kenny Dalglish adds.

The Sun newspaper, which wrongly accused the Liverpool fans to be responsible for the tragedy, is under pressure to release details as to why they ran the story, which was completely false. Moreso, many would like to see parent company News International issue a more substantial apology. Since 1989 The Sun newspaper has failed to sell in most parts of Liverpool.

Lee Brady, Liverpool FC fan, and leader of the Brookside DVD Campaign group said, “I think its great news that all documents will be viewed by the families of the Hillsborough tragedy.

“As a die hard Red I have supported this all my life and I have went to Anfield every year to the anniversary. Now family’s of the 96 should be able to have some peace. This shows how powerful a fan base can be for a club to fight for what is right – justice!”

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