Hillsborough verdict

Petra, I have followed and been involved with miscarriages of justice for years , I was in the crowd when the Birmingham Six were released , I knew Paul Foot - because of his connection to Michael Foot , I met Stephen Lawrence's dad and then Doreen. I grew up in the same street where Timothy Evans sister lived , the mystery is - why did I marry a police officer

How sad I feel for society today and actually humankind to read all these posts.
The saying about all power corrupting seems to be coming true.

Annie totally agree. And it's not getting any better in regard to police corruption.
I have been in court twice, once as a witness, where I've listened to the police lieing.

My husband was invited to join the Freemasons by a senior officer who told him it would speed up promotion through the ranks, he refused

I read this morning that Dukinfield (who ordered the gate to be opened) is a freemason as were many of the other high ranking officers who it seems, conspired to cover up the truth and to smear the fans. I hadn't read that before and felt a bit naive for not even having considered the malign influence of that powerful gang.

As absent has said, lessons about crowd safety and the way crowds of football fans are policed is very different than it was 27 years ago. The damage done to trust in the police service, politicians and the media by the way Hillsborough was both policed at the time and attempts made to hide the truth afterwards has undermined public confidence even further. Cynicism about public officials seems to be at an all time high. I don't believe society ever will, or ever should, return to accepting what those on high tell us but I'm not convinced that disbelief and cynicism is necessarily a positive thing. There are some good people in society which must be reflected in politics, police etc.

That is so sad though isn't it Anniebach ? I was brought up to respect the police. I now feel quite bitter and wonder if dramas such as " in the line of duty" are maybe not as far fetched as we think .

The police don't care about criticism, they know they are above the law

Anniebach I think some lessons have already been learned and the way crowds of football fans are policed now is quite different from how things were 27 years ago. That said, the organised cover-up of the original mistaken order to open the gate and further errors and stupid decisions once the terrible catastrophe was underway, as well as the appalling contempt for the dead and injured fans and their families remain a shocking blight on some of the police service, some politicians and some parts of the media.

Nothing will be done , just as nothing was done about abuse in children's homes , no one brought to justice for falsifying evidence resulting in many miscarriages of justice. There will be the usual - we are sorry and lessons will be learned

And where is the policeman who was in charge at the time, on holiday in Portugal, spending his big fat pension.

I would imagine that those who attempted to cover up the truth, those who prevented the ambulances from entering the ground, those who told bare faced lies and changed their stories, those who blackened the name of innocent football supporters will have long since retired on their final salary pensions.

What do do now? I haven't got a clue.

I think that's just exactly what 'they' hoped would happen Elrel

27 years, about bloody time.
All those police and media lies.
About time, why so slow? Surely the bereaved relatives weren't expected to give up and quietly go away.

I suppose "lawful" killing would in self defence or in defence of life when there was no other option?

A bit of an aside but I find the terminology of "unlawful killing" rather odd. To me is sort of implies that some killing is lawful. Something like "killing by criminal negligence" would be better.

Thinking on it more, it isn't really justice , perhaps a move towards justice , perhaps not ,

27 years ago we had no interest in football and never watched it. For some reason that day I was skimming through the channels (such as they were) when we noticed some people on the pitch. Something struck us as terribly wrong and we watched in horror as it all unfolded. I've never forgotten it and I can't imagine what it must have been like for those who were there, or had loved ones there.

Ah! I understand.

What do I mean? . It took 27 bloody years, for the truth to come out. The truth that we all knew all along. So that is a good day for British justice is it.?

Presumably he meant he agreed with today's verdict. What's wrong with that?

Good grief, is the man mad , it's yet another day where we learn of police corruption and cover ups

What do you mean, petra?

I can't believe that John Snow ( Chanel 4 news) said: " Its a good day for British justice" WHAT!!!!!

Good on them, every one of those families who have fought tooth and nail to prove that their own were not to blame for what happened that day. I would certainly not leave it there, I would want the people to blame to be brought to justice and to pay for what they have done. If cases can be brought from years past for sexual matters like they have then this still needs to be fought until someone is found accountable for the mistake of those fans being crushed to death.

They have guts and determination, those Liverpool families, many many tears but lots of strength and support from each other, God love them.

I think that if I had a family member who had died in such a horrific way and I had seen the TV footage of the obvious lack of urgency and negligence displayed, I would not be able to put it behind me until everything was brought out into the open.

When you add to that, the "cover up" where police officers were told to edit their notes to give a uniform and incorrect account of events - which the Sun readily believed and published - I can quite understand why for some people this issue has become an all-consuming part of their lives.

I hope now that they feel more at peace and they can get on with the rest of their lives - though I don't suppose that this awful event will ever be forgotten.