Inquest into Hillsborough deaths quashed

By Charles Maggs

A fresh inquest will be launched into the deaths at the Hillsborough tragedy, after the attorney general confirmed government action in the light of a damning new report in to the stadium disaster.

"I am persuaded an application to the courts for fresh inquests must be made," Dom inic Grieve said.

The declaration was welcomed by all sides of the House, especially from opposition benches as many Labour members from the North West have constituents who were directly affected by the tragedy.

The announcement is the latest development to follow from the report by the Hillsborough Independent Panel which said that as many as 41 supporters might have survived if the police and ambulance response had been quicker.

However further evidence has come forward suggesting that as many as 58 might have survived.

Garston and Halewood MP Maria Eagle said "This wasn’t inevitable – it was a failure of police control.

"It illustrates again how important it is that we get proper accountability and that the legal processes are conducted as swiftly as possible."

A new inquest into the deaths increases the chances of convictions that were suggested by the recent announcement by the Crown Prosecution Service, who are looking into the possibility of manslaughter, perjury and misconduct in public office offences. 

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