British football’s darkest chapter
28-year campaign in search of justice
15 April 1989
96 Liverpool fans crushed to death at the start of the Liverpool-nottingham Forest FA Cup semi-final, after being funnelled into overcrowded pens at the Leppings Lane end of Hillsborough.
April 1989
In the aftermath of the Hillsborough stadium disaster, police accounts of what happened on that day are amended, in some cases to remove criticism of senior officers.
Aug 4 1989
Lord Justice Taylor, leading a judicial inquiry, finds the main reason for the disaster was “the failure of police control”. He is critical of senior officers and says fans’ behaviour played no part in the disaster.
Aug 30 1990
The Director of Public Prosecutions says there is “no evidence to justify criminal proceedings”. While the police were most responsible, the legal case for manslaughter could not be established.
March 28 1991
Inquest jury returns a verdict of “accidental death” after coroner Dr Stefan Popper rules out evidence relating to the death of fans beyond 3.15pm because, by this time, the damage was done.
Dec 5 1996
TV documentary Hillsborough reveals new evidence, including that some of the 96 were alive after 3.15pm and that “it was obvious” pens 3 and 4 were already “very full” when Gate C was opened.
Feb 16 2000
Hillsborough Families Support Group begins private prosecution of police on manslaughter and misconduct charges. Jury fails to reach verdict on David Duckenfield and Bernard Murray acquitted.
April 15 2009
Andy Burnham MP heckled by fans at the 20th Hillsborough memorial at Anfield. He joins campaign and a Commons debate leads to full disclosure of 300,000 documents held by public bodies.
Sept 12 2012
The Hillsborough Independent Panel blames senior officers for opening exit gates without considering consequences. It also says emergency services made attempt “to deflect blame on to innocent fans”.
Dec 19 2012
Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge quashes the accidental death verdicts from the 1991 inquest and orders new inquests. The then home secretary, Theresa May, announces a new police inquiry into the disaster.
April 18 2013
Hillsborough campaigner Anne Williams dies aged 62. Her son Kevin, 15, was killed and she had campaigned for more than 20 years for the verdict into the deaths of the 96 to be overturned.
April 28 2016
New inquest concludes that fans were unlawfully killed. Jury finds the behaviour of Liverpool fans played no part; it blames police failures, stadium design faults and poor ambulance service response.
June 28 2017
David Duckenfield, match commander, Sir Norman Bettison, former Yorkshire Police chief constable, and four others have been charged with offences relating to the disaster, CPS says.