Hillsborough families only learned of a new review into the deaths of their relatives, three months after it started.
A new independent review considering what went wrong with the original pathology report was announced yesterday, Wednesday, October 5. The review, investigating the failings of the original Hillsborough inquests to ensure similar mistakes aren't made in the future, began on July 1 following the conclusion of the criminal trials.
But the families of Hillsborough victims said they were not notified of the review until yesterday. The families reportedly only became aware of the new review following an email sent on the day of the official announcement.
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Politicians including Andy Burnham, Steve Rotheram and Joanne Anderson have publicly called on the Home Office to explain why the decision was made to start a review without notifying the families. Mr Rotheram, metro mayor for the Liverpool City Region, said on Twitter: "Thoughtless and insensitive to hear the Home Office has announced a review into the failures in pathology at the original Hillsborough inquests without informing or talking to the families first. We will have more to say on this."
The review is considering what went wrong with the original pathological report into the disaster at Hillsborough Stadium on April 15 1989. 97 Liverpool FC fans were unlawfully killed as a result of the crush at the FA Cup semi-final.
The review was set up in response to one of 25 recommendations in a 2017 report by chair of the Hillsborough Independent Panel Bishop James Jones. In 2012 damning criticism of the original pathology evidence was published, highlighting how the coroner at the first inquest, Dr Stefan Popper, ruled no evidence after 3.15pm was heard.
The review, which is being chaired by forensic science expert Glenn Taylor, will report its findings to home secretary Suella Braverman next summer. The review is expected to recognise the pathological failures, assess if there is a risk of similar failures being made again, and look at the accountability of practitioners and how it has changed since the original inquests.
Speaking to Radio City this morning, Charlotte Hennessy, who lost her dad Jimmy in the disaster, said: "How dare they look at our loved ones' pathology reports without our permission? How dare they make sure that we're not ok with that? Where is the consideration for these bereaved family members? It's just so disrespectful."
Peter Scarfe, of the Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance, today told the ECHO: "The review is obviously welcomed - it needed to be done. But the fact they hadn't contacted the families is disgusting. It's terrible the Home Office couldn't notify them first. They didn't have the decency to tell them they were doing this - it's shocking to be honest."
Mr Scarfe added the events highlight the need for a Hillsborough Law. The law, backed by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and campaigned for by the ECHO, will help bereaved families and aims to prevent further injustices where there is state involvement.
Mr Scarfe added: "The Home Office had plenty of time to notify the families. Information like this brings out the trolls on social media so the families have to relive the traumatic events. The Home Office had no regard for the impact this was going to have."
Mr Burnham, the Liverpool born mayor of Manchester who also pressed for the formation of the Hillsborough Independent Panel, said: "It is quite simply appalling that the Home Office has initiated a review of the pathology of people who died at Hillsborough without informing their families. We are considering next steps."
The ECHO approached the Home Office for comment.
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