Prosecutors to announce possible Hillsborough charges

The Crown Prosecution Service will announce later whether anyone will face criminal charges over the disaster which left 96 dead

Published 28th Jun 2017
Last updated 28th Jun 2017

An announcement will be made later on whether any people or organisations will face criminal charges over the Hillsborough Disaster.

Last year an inquest found that all 96 people who died back in 1989 were unlawfully killed.

We'll find out whether South Yorkshire Police, the ambulance service, Sheffield City Council or Sheffield Wednesday Football Club will face action - as well as any individuals like police officers or match officials.

Families of the 96 people killed during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in April 1989 will meet in Warrington to be told of the decisions by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Earlier this year, the CPS received files of evidence relating to 23 suspects, including individuals and organisations, from the Independent Press Complaints Commission (IPCC) and Operation Resolve, which investigated the causes of the disaster.

Margaret Aspinall lost her son James on that day 28 years ago - she's now the chairwoman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, and she says the verdict is huge for all the families involved.

"I didn't think anything could be as stressful as the feelings of that day, but actually, this is just as important. Hopefully it's going to be the end - somebody being accountable.

"We've got to remember those who have fought for so long. I won't be there to see it, and how sad is that? I think Hillsborough played a part in shortening all their lives. We'll be thinking of them, and hoping that things come right."

The inquests last year found errors in the actions of the police planning, the response of the ambulance service, and the management of the stadium by Sheffield Wednesday.

Steve Kelly's brother was one of the victims - he thinks the families have a long way to go:

"It's quite a strange time. We'll hopefully find another piece of our jigsaw puzzle. There may be organisations or individuals charged, which will lead us on to the next road of criminal prosecutions. But then again, there's going to be that wait again, of how many years, and it's a hard cross to burn.

"I think there's many battles to go yet, so for Hillsborough families, it's just business and another day."