Epic campaign likened to the Hillsborough battle for justice

THE long-awaited inquests into the deaths at Gosport War Memorial Hospital have been likened by some to the inquests that followed the Hillsborough disaster.

On April 15, 1989, 96 football fans were killed at Hillsborough Stadium when exit gate C was opened and over

crowding led to people being crushed against the fences.

After the Taylor Report was published in 1990, blame was placed squarely at the feet of South Yorkshire Police (SYP) – but initial coroner inquests ruled the deaths as accidental. From that moment on, the families of those who died have been campaigning for justice, forming the Hillsborough Families Support Group.

The group brought private prosecutions against police match commander David Duckenfield, but these were unsuccessful.

In 2009, a Hillsborough Independent Panel was formed to review the evidence, headed by Bishop James

Jones – the same bishop who has since overseen the Gosport War Memorial Hospital Independent Panel.

The panel’s report found that the initial inquests were ruled incorrectly, and highlighted police attempts to shift blame onto fans and even other emergency services.

It resulted in new inquests for those who died – and subsequently opened the door for the Crown Prosecution Service to launch criminal proceedings. SYP chief constable David Crompton was suspended following the verdict, and in June 2017, six people were charged with offences including manslaughter by gross negligence, misconduct in public office and perverting the course of justice for their actions during and after the disaster.

It is this outcome that Gosport War Memorial Hospital families will be hopeful of after their inquests are heard, with many still optimistic of getting criminal prosecutions against those who wronged them.