ACTING IN RESPONSE to an online petition that has gathered over 139,000 signatories, the British parliament has finally agreed to debate the release of documents relating to Liverpool FC’s infamous 1989 FA Cup semi-final clash with Nottingham Forest, a fixture at which 96 fans lost their lives.
British Prime Minister David Cameron has described himself as “wholly committed” to the release, giving hope to the families of victims who have waited decades to resolve the ambiguity surrounding events at Hillsborough stadium.
Blame was originally allocated to the fans themselves, but it has long been suspected that both the actions of the police and the design of the stadium contributed to the severe overcrowding.
While this evening’s parliamentary debate is unlikely to resolve any of these questions, it will do much to highlight and accelerate the work of the Hillsborough Independent Panel, an investigative body established by the British government in 2009.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, in interview with the BBC, sounded a cautionary note, saying it was important to prioritise the informing of victims’ families over the immediate release of documents.
“In terms of the actual events leading up to what happened, debates and discussion within government, that has all got to be got out there by way of the panel.”
Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool’s current manager and manager during the 1989 season, described the announcement as “great news for the families.”
The debate is scheduled to begin at 18:00.
