Dalglish calls for justice

By ESPN staff

Kenny Dalglish issued a call for justice on behalf of those who lost their lives at Hillsborough after an independent review finally cleared Liverpool fans of any blame for the disaster, which saw 96 supporters fail to return home from a football match.

PA PhotosIn April 2012, players and fans from both Everton and Liverpool payed their respects ahead of the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster

Prime Minister David Cameron stated on Wednesday his "profound apologies" for the injustice felt by the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives back in 1989, revealing findings of a police cover-up as well as failures on behalf of the emergency services.
It was found that 41 of the 96 fans who lost their lives might have been saved, while Liverpool fans were the target of a police cover-up that attempted to pin the blame on the defenceless. Thursday's national newspapers, 23 years after the disaster, have finally printed the truth about Hillsborough, and now Dalglish - Liverpool manager at the time - wants justice for the families.
"The events of yesterday means the dignified search for justice has been given a platform to build on," Dalglish, who attended Wednesday's vigil in memory of the 96, said. "The sad thing is that 41 of the victims could have been saved and for their families there was obviously great upset.
"The Prime Minister spoke very well, and MPs Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram have done a fantastic job at getting the release of the papers brought forward, while great credit should also go to the panel when you consider how much information they had to work through.
"The aims remain the same for the families and their search to see justice done goes on. A start would be for the death certificates and the coroner's report to be changed from accidental death to unlawful killing."
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard suffered directly from the tragedy, with his 10-year-old cousin Jon-Paul Gilhooley the youngest of the 96 to lose his life at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. Reacting to the findings of the review, Gerrard slammed the "shameful" cover-up that followed the April disaster.
"For 23 years they have fought for truth and justice on behalf of the victims and survivors of this terrible tragedy and all Liverpool supporters," Gerrard said. "Victims and survivors suffered not just on April 15, 1989 in Sheffield, but for over two decades afterwards with the shameful slandering of their actions by people who abused their position and power.
"Speaking as someone whose family directly suffered, I know the pain and hurt will remain. However, I hope that today's report helps bring some comfort, now that everyone knows what happened on that day."