Hillsborough vigil sees thousands pay tribute in Liverpool
Posted Thursday, April 28, 2016 by skysports.com
Thousands of people sung the Liverpool anthem 'You'll Never Walk Alone' at the vigil
A vigil was held on Wednesday evening to remember the 96 victims of the Hillsborough tragedy, and to reflect on their families' 27-year fight for justice.
Thousands gathered in the sunshine outside St George's Hall in Liverpool on Wednesday for the event attended by relatives, campaigners and the city's Mayor Joe Anderson.
The families of the Hillsborough victims gathered at St George's Hall
Crowds chanted "for the 96, justice" before music by The Beatles was played and 96 young people laid red roses for the victims.
Mr Anderson said the tragedy - which happened when fans were crushed before Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest in Sheffield on April, 15 1989 - was the biggest cover-up in history.
He added: "Yesterday, the wall of lies was finally torn down. The real truth came out yesterday."
Liverpool's Mayor Joe Anderson gave a speech during the Hillsborough vigil
It was because of the "incompetence of those in charge" who "tried to lay the blame at the door of our fans" that the 96 had lost their lives, he said.
Archbishop of Liverpool, Malcolm McMahon, held prayers and said: "Justice never comes cheap.
"But nobody would have expected it to take over a quarter of a century for the light of truth to shine on this dark episode in our nation's history.
"We are all aware of the prolonged suffering of the families who refused to be crushed by indifference, denials and false accusations."
A banner reading Truth and Justice was hung from Liverpool's St George's Hall on Wednesday
Politicians, including Shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham and Garston and Halewood MP Maria Eagle, read the names and ages of the victims outside the Hall, where a memorial emblazoned with the words 'Truth' and 'Justice' stands over a row of 96 lanterns.
Margaret Aspinall, who lost her son James in the stadium disaster, was met with loud applause when she took to the stand to thank supporters.
She said that after listening to the "lies" in court, South Yorkshire Police ought to "hang their heads in shame".
Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish, who managed the team on the day of the 1989 disaster, read a passage from the Bible, and added "you'll never walk alone", before crowds joined together in song
Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish delivered a poignant Bible reading during the Hillsborough vigil
The vigil began hours after the Government said families will continue to receive legal aid as they pursue further action over the tragedy.
Home Secretary Theresa May told MPs it was "not the end of the process" as she set out the Government's response to the inquests jury's ruling that the Liverpool supporters were unlawfully killed.
The jury concluded the behaviour of fans was not a factor in the tragedy.
The Home Secretary Theresa May explains which type of criminal prosecutions could come from the Hillsborough inquests
It also found errors by the police and ambulance service had "caused or contributed" to Britain's worst sporting disaster.
The chief constable of South Yorkshire Police, David Crompton, has been suspended over his response to the tragedy.
Dr Alan Billings, the area's police and crime commissioner, said he had no other choice, given the "erosion of public trust and confidence".
Speaking at Wednesday's pre-match press conference at Villarreal, Jurgen Klopp said he admired the fight shown by those affected by the Hillsborough disaster
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