Hillsborough files may be released early
Monday, 20 April 2009 12:00 AM
By politics.co.uk staff
The documents relating to the Hillsborough disaster are expected to be released ten years ahead of schedule following a request by the home secretary, it was announced today.
Sensitive documents are usually subject to a 30-year embargo but it is understood Ms Smith, following a discussion with South Yorkshire chief constable Meredydd Hughes, asked for that period to be waived.
The news comes as a relief to the families of the 96 who died that day as it brings to an end their 20-year campaign for the truth about the tragedy to be published.
Trevor Hicks, of the Hillsborough Families Support Group, said: "This will enable us to see the full picture of events in a way that we have been denied for 20 years.
"It is vital that these files are released in full and not sanitised in any way."
He added he was pleased by the announcement and that it was "better late than never".
On the 20th anniversary of English football's worst tragedy, sports minister Andy Burnham and junior justice minister Maria Eagle asked the police, ambulance service, fire service, Sheffield city council and all other public authorities involved to disclose internal documents relating to the disaster.
Ms Eagle, MP for Liverpool Garston, has consistently accused authorities of attempting to cover up their part to play in the deaths of 96 men, women and children at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in 1989.
Mr Burnham said: "The Hillsborough families have suffered the immediate pain of the tragedy and the anguish afterwards of 20 years without a sense of proper resolution or closure.
"For the families, there are still unanswered questions."
He said for families to know all they could about the deaths of their loved ones it was vital there was transparency and all documents should be released.
Ms Eagle has claimed in the past police evidence given to Lord Justice Taylor which blamed supporters' misbehaviour for the event was part of a "conspiracy to cover up" their role.
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