Hillsborough Law would eradicate lies and ease pain

I DON’T mind admitting I was moved to tears watching Anne, the ITV drama about Anne Williams and the Hillsborough families’ quest for truth and justice.

I tweeted afterwards that maybe now rival fans will stop singing ‘always the victim’ about the people of Liverpool.

The programme showed what we, in the city, have always known: the lies, cover-ups and sheer corruption of the police, government and some of the media was not only disgusting, but criminal.

It caused so much pain and anguish to the families, who only wanted one thing: the truth. It extended their suffering cruelly, despicably.

Charl Hennessy, who lost her father Jimmy to an unlawful killing at Hillsborough – and let’s get this straight that means manslaughter or murder – put it so eloquently, so heartbreakingly for all the families of the 97. She said: “[Former Chief Superintendent] David Duckenfield’s failings destroyed our lives. He told a lie in the heat of the moment, we understand that. It was the silence for 9,465 days that we can’t forgive.

“You could have stopped all of this. You didn’t. Shame on you.”

Those lies, that corruption, added so much pain, misery and suffering to the lives of people who already had them shattered by the criminal actions of the police and authorities. And the lies came not just from Duckenfield, but so much of the police, the government and the establishment.

Suffering to AInnntee, the incredible force that is

Margaret Aspinall. To every single family member of the 97 who died.

Think of how many lives it destroyed.

It can’t ever be allowed to happen again. Which is why I support Liverpool Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s campaign for a Hillsborough Law.

It would prevent public bodies being able to spend ‘near limitless’ amounts of money on legal representation at inquests, while the bereaved get no access to legal funding. It would also introduce a duty of candour on public servants during public inquiries and criminal investigations – and a public advocate to act for families of the deceased after major incidents.

That would help stop the lies and corruption. And give bereaved families peace. And if you still believe the people of Liverpool are ‘always the victim’, then think of this.

It could happen at a concert, any sporting event. Again. And it could happen to you and your family. It has happened since Hillsborough at the Manchester Arena and Grenfell among other tragedies, and the families are not only forced to fight for justice… they are forced to fight lies, conspiracy and cover ups.

The state helped suppress the truth about Hillsborough and blame the victims for their own deaths when they were caused by criminal neglect. And not a single person has been held accountable for those actions. That is obscene.

That is a stain on our society, on our institutions, and it cannot be

to happen again. We need a #HillsboroughLawNow.