Families of Hillsborough victims lash out at lack of accountability for police officers
The families of those who died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster have expressed outrage and disappointment that no police officers will face disciplinary proceedings, despite a report highlighting a catalogue of failings by South Yorkshire police.
A 14-year investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found that 12 police officers would have faced gross misconduct cases if they were still serving. However, none of these former officers will now face disciplinary action due to their retirement or passing away. One officer who was in charge at the time of the disaster, Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield, had his acquittal on gross negligence manslaughter charges overturned by a jury last year.
The report found that South Yorkshire police had withheld crucial information and amended hundreds of officers' statements about the events leading up to the tragedy. The IOPC also identified six allegations against former chief constable Peter Wright, including for seeking to minimise the force's responsibility and deflect blame onto the victims.
However, many families feel that justice has been denied due to the lack of accountability from those responsible. "No one should be beaten by the passage of time," said Steve Kelly, whose brother Mike died at Hillsborough. "We should have truth, justice and accountability, at least within a person's lifetime."
Margaret Aspinall, whose son James was killed at Hillsborough, expressed frustration that some former officers were able to retire or pass away before facing disciplinary action. "How lucky are they?" she said. "How lucky are they to have died in their own home, not traumatised like we all were?"
The families of the victims also welcomed the introduction of a new law aimed at deterring official cover-ups, but felt that it was too little, too late. "I cannot accept or understand how 97 people can be unlawfully killed, and nobody is held accountable," Aspinall said.
The IOPC has acknowledged that some families still feel they have not received the explanations and justice they deserve, despite a lengthy investigation. The deputy director general of the IOPC, Kathie Cashell, described it as "deeply unsatisfactory" to be looking for answers 36 years on.
The families of those who died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster have expressed outrage and disappointment that no police officers will face disciplinary proceedings, despite a report highlighting a catalogue of failings by South Yorkshire police.
A 14-year investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found that 12 police officers would have faced gross misconduct cases if they were still serving. However, none of these former officers will now face disciplinary action due to their retirement or passing away. One officer who was in charge at the time of the disaster, Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield, had his acquittal on gross negligence manslaughter charges overturned by a jury last year.
The report found that South Yorkshire police had withheld crucial information and amended hundreds of officers' statements about the events leading up to the tragedy. The IOPC also identified six allegations against former chief constable Peter Wright, including for seeking to minimise the force's responsibility and deflect blame onto the victims.
However, many families feel that justice has been denied due to the lack of accountability from those responsible. "No one should be beaten by the passage of time," said Steve Kelly, whose brother Mike died at Hillsborough. "We should have truth, justice and accountability, at least within a person's lifetime."
Margaret Aspinall, whose son James was killed at Hillsborough, expressed frustration that some former officers were able to retire or pass away before facing disciplinary action. "How lucky are they?" she said. "How lucky are they to have died in their own home, not traumatised like we all were?"
The families of the victims also welcomed the introduction of a new law aimed at deterring official cover-ups, but felt that it was too little, too late. "I cannot accept or understand how 97 people can be unlawfully killed, and nobody is held accountable," Aspinall said.
The IOPC has acknowledged that some families still feel they have not received the explanations and justice they deserve, despite a lengthy investigation. The deputy director general of the IOPC, Kathie Cashell, described it as "deeply unsatisfactory" to be looking for answers 36 years on.
Still waiting for the cops to take responsibility for that dirty day in '89
. On one hand, I get it, 36 years is a looong time and they deserve answers 
. But at the same time, shouldn't we be giving them some hope or closure by now? 
I mean, if those officers didn't face disciplinary action, what's the point of even doing an investigation, right? 
. It's just not fair to them or their victims 
. I know some families might say justice has been denied because they can't have accountability within a person's lifetime, but what if we're just giving up too easily? 
They're the ones who have been searching for truth and justice all these years. It's just frustrating because you want to believe that things will get better someday... or at least, I do 
.
The families are still struggling to find closure & the police just get away with it 
. Like, what's the point of having an investigation if there ain't gonna be consequences? 
The fact that some ex-officers retired or passed away before facing disciplinary action is just... ugh! 
How can they expect us to trust the system when it's so clearly broken? 
. And don't even get me started on the fact that Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield got his acquittal overturned by a jury last year 
. It's like the justice system is broken and we're all just stuck in this never-ending cycle of frustration 
.
That's just appalling. It feels like we're being left to pick up the pieces of our lives while these officers get to rest in peace, with their reputations intact 
. I mean, what's the point of even having a justice system if it's just going to protect the guilty? 
. We need real change here, like real accountability for those who messed up that day 
.
the fact that police officers are getting off scot-free because they retired or passed away before facing disciplinary action is just infuriating 
36 years is way too long 
. I remember watching the documentaries on Hillsborough and seeing all the videos of what happened... it's just a mess 
.
. It's like they're getting away with murder (no pun intended) 
. I just wish there was more that could've been done to prevent this tragedy from happening in the first place 
. Maybe it'll be enough to give these families some closure and answers they've been seeking for decades 
.
. I mean, what's the point of all these investigations if no one's gonna face any consequences? It's like they're just sweepin' stuff under the rug 
. And now some of these old boys have died or retired before they had to answer for their actions... it's just so unfair 