To ask you to support Tony Edwards the Hillsborough ambulance man

[Selvedge]

Tony Edwards was the 1st ambulance man on the pitch at the Hillsborough disaster. He has fought tirelessly for justice and must have an equal opportunity to tell his story at the inquest which is being denied him by a lack of legal aid. He is the dad of my good friend. This is really important.

Please signthe petition. It only takes a few minutes and you won't receive spam for your pains.

Have a look and sharehis facebook page

Here is thechat thread I started that has now fallen off the first page so less prominent.

Thank you.

Signed and shared on fb.

Done and shared :)

signed. It's important he can say whatever he needs to say.

Signed and bumping

Thanks everyone, time is of the essence because I think he is going to close the petition very soon.

Signed

Not sure I understand why he needs legal representation though? Or am I just being thick?

In all honesty I don't think he will get legal aid because of a petition and nor should he.

Signed
Though, it's a disgrace the guy has to pay.

Signed and shared. He be offered legal aid as have others that have been asked to stand as witness. It's called equality.

Done and shared.

could you clarify why he needs legal representation as a witness? thanks

mercibucket ExitPursued Tony needs representation because everyone else in court will have, it is surely fair that everyone gets the same treatment. He is a witness, but more than someone who just saw what happened. He was part of it, a member of one of the organisations under scrutiny. His actions may be called to question. There would be a clear conflict of interests if he were to accept ambulance service representation and he can't morally do this. For someone so critical of the authorities to be denied legal aid questions the fairness of the inquest.

AndrewofGG Do you think we shouldn't bother then? Just roll over and accept this? This mans life has been turned upside down since 1989 and I am just doing what I can. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing".

Thank you to all who have signed.

Bump

Selvedge Do you think judicial decisions should be subject to online petitions too?

Signed.

Andrewofgg, what is your problem? you seem quite aggrieved that some of us want the truth at this Hillsborough enquiry.

Selvedge: Thank you for starting this thread. I had no idea about this.

There are some big guns legally defending several parties in these hearings, Tony will be shredded in the witness box without proper legal advice.

I suspect as first on scene, he has details several parties don't want revealed.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2080018-Tony-Edwards-the-Hillsborough-ambulance-man-needs-your-help

Thread from Wednesday.

Signed.

paxtecum I am not aggressive! But I do not think decisions of this sort should be taken on the basis of who gets most signatures on an e-petition. Witnesses of fact are not normally legally represented.

You and MissMarplesBloomers should know that even if has representation - once he is in the box and sworn they cannot advise him or even speak to him. He will be on his own.

Thanks HQ for relocating the thread. The petition is going to be closed today I think, so going for a final push.

sashh thanks, there is also an appeal for donations on the links. This is about a principle of equality, but is not the only avenue being explored.

AndrewofGG your second comment strikes me as a little aggressive and your first quite patronising.

For you to think this is the only thing Tony and his supporters are doing is pretty dim. I am raising awareness of an inequality, it is what I can do, right now, while I get on with my life.
Witnesses of fact are not normally legally represented. No they are not, but this is not a normal situation. Everyone else will be represented. This is what makes it unfair.

And what makes you think I would want a judicial decision to be decided by petition?

Selvedge I don't mind if I occasionally come across as aggressive - we all have strong views on something - but I am concerned if I sound patronising which is not my intention.

As to your last line: the fact that you think the decision about legal aid should be influenced by petition, that's what.

There is an atmosphere building around this inquest which I don't like. At the earlier hearing when counsel for some of the officers referred to their right not to incriminate themselves they were shouts of Disgraceful! and No such right! - that is the sort of thing I mean. I want to see this inquest conducted in "calm judicial frame of mind" - not as a lynching party.

Andrewofgg you are missing the point. Everyone else will have representation paid for by the taxpayer. Tony will not. This is not fair. This not equal. If there is going to be any lynching in this scenario it seems pretty clear that he will be the victim.

Done.

JFT96

Thanks