Hillsborough disaster verdict: Liverpool fans killed “unlawfully”

The disaster took place during the 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool-Nottingham Forest, for which Hillsborough was chosen to be the neutral venue. With too many fans trying to enter the stadium through the turnstiles, the police panicked and opened the exit gates, and with the situation going out of control, a number of fans were crushed in the pens. The mob was held responsible for the crushing and the disaster that ensued for the longest time.

But on Tuesday morning, the jury on the disaster concluded that it was the police action that created a dangerous situation for the fans at the turnstiles, and the failure by the commanding officers caused a crush on the terraces. Further, the jury added that there were mistakes in the police control box over the order to open the exit gates and the Leppings Lane in Hillsborough.

The delay in emergency response from the police played a part too, as did defects in the stadium.

The verdict from the inquests comes as a major relief for Liverpool fans, who had long demanded justice for the 96, and relived fans outside the courtroom were seen punching the air after the announcement was made, to celebrate the justice served eventually.