North West
venue for
football
disaster
inquests

Lord Justice Goldring made the decision after hearing conflicting arguments at a preliminary hearing last week in support of holding the hearing in either the North West or London.

In a written direction yesterday, the judge said: “I have concluded it would be right for the inquests to be held in the North West.

“It would not be helpful further to identify a location at this 
stage.”

Britain’s worst sporting disaster unfolded at Sheffield’s Hillsborough stadium on April 15 1989 during Liverpool’s FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest as thousands of fans were crushed on the ground’s Leppings Lane terrace.

Last December, verdicts of accidental death from the original inquest in March 1991 were quashed. It came after the Hillsborough Independent Panel, which had studied thousands of documents, reported there had been a huge cover-up of what happened at Hillsborough and its aftermath.

Lord Justice Goldring, recently appointed as coroner to the fresh inquests, last week said the new inquests would be held in early 2014.

But a split emerged between the two separate campaign groups, as some 71 families from the Hillsborough Family Support Group (HFSG) want the hearing to be held in London, while a smaller group from the Hillsborough Justice Campaign (HJC) asked for it to take place in the North West outside of Liverpool or Manchester.

Michael Mansfield QC, who represents the 71 HFSG families, argued that animosity and rivalry among football clubs in the North West could impact on proceedings, while London would be best suited to accommodate the international interest.

Explaining his decision, the judge said: “The hearing is bound, it seems to me, to take several months. If it is held in London, those who wish to follow it in person will be away from home and living in hotels for a very long time.

“It is plainly not a practicable solution for someone to commute from Liverpool or the North West on a daily basis.”

He went on: “I cannot see how anyone with work or caring responsibilities can spend long periods away from home in a hotel in London.”

Lord Justice Goldring said for those who are older or unwell, travelling to London would also not be comfortable or easy, adding: “Video-links are second best.”

Kenny Derbyshire, HJC chair and Hillsborough survivor, said: “The families didn’t want to have to move down to London, so this is for the families.”