Home Secretary asks for Hillsbourough files to be made public

[Saltire]

story here. Good news for the families of those who died, they may get some answers

Good, it's about time I think.

It's been an awful long time coming. Hope there is now a proper investigation to determine what happened after the original coroner's arbitrary cut-off - speaking to the only ambulanceman who made it onto the pitch would be a start, he was never allowed to give evidence to the inquest or Taylor inquiry.

yes I agree; I have to confess to having been in the dark pretty much about what went on behind the scenes so to speak; I didn't know anything about the 3.15pm ruling at the inquest or the 44 ambulances not allowed in....all stuff I have learned in the past few days because I wanted to get educated.

A couple of days ago there was a prog on radio 4 where a small group of people talked about that day, that sole ambulance driver was one of them. I cannot believe he was not called to any kind of enquiry or inquest. He was in pieces describing his experiences and the fact that he just couldn't cope with the situation he faced -how could he? over 90 people dead and one ambulance? it was pretty hard hitting stuff. The mother of the two dead sisters was also on the programme, Sarah and Victoria Hicks. How she has had the strength to carry on is beyond me. I thought about what I would do if my dds were killed and I decided that basically I would want to die too.

I now really feel strongly that there was a major cover up about Hillsborough and I passionately hope it will be investigated properly.

would be a wonderful thing if justice was done, and the whitewash was relegated to history, but it is 20 years later...20 years. just horrific.

Will Duckenfield ever be brought to justice? He was allowed to retire on a full pension - absolutely disgraceful.

I really hope it is not just another whitewash - the relatives and survivors are owed so much more.

Can't help thinking she is doing it to curry favour but if it helps the families then that is all that matters.

Radio 4 had The Reunion on on Friday morning and it was with people involved, including the only ambulance driver allowed onto the pitch. Very moving.

yes that was it Muffin - the reunion. It was immensely poignant IMO.

I watched the Jimmy McGovern program on itv3, it's still on itv's iplayer for the next couple of weeks
very harrowing

I am from the North West and live not too far from Liverpool but I must admit that although I knew a lot of the details of what happened, the last few days have been an education for me also. I was 15 at the time, and I remember the images and watching it unfold on TV but I think now that I am Wife and Mother myself that I am having real trouble comprehending the tragedy. It makes no sense that people should go to a football match and never come home again.

When I hear Jenny and Trevor Hicks talking about going home without their two daughters it is just so heartbreaking to think about that I actually cannot bear it. How on Earth does someone move on after that? I truly hope that something is done now for the families of the people that died. I hope they get the answers and the justice that they truly deserve.

I recall Hillsborough clearly and the horror of the day. I too am glad that the files are to be made public- However, surely we have to await the results of any enquiry as it's possible those who were bereaved or involved on that day WON'T find 'the answers' they're searching for in order to be able to 'move on' with their lives.

Heads may roll- or it may be concluded that under the circumstances, the authorities could not have foreseen the consequences of their actions, which sadly can be the outcome folowing any disaster- retrospect being the most exact science known to man etc.

We have to be sure we understand what we mean by 'justice'. If it transpires that an enquiry finds no one can legally be 'held responsible' for the events, WILL the aggrieved feel that justice has been done? Will 'getting answers' be enough if those answers don't lead to prosecutions?

I'm not sure I know. But I do hope those poor families can gain at least some more understanding as even after 20 years, the wounds are still obviously raw.