Hillsborough victim’s sister says only way to stop cover-ups is to send people to jail in wake of blood scandal

Published

1 month ago

May 24, 2024

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The sister of a man who died in the Hillsborough disaster has cast doubt on whether a law aimed at preventing official cover-ups can ever truly work “until they start sending people to prison”.

Infected blood scandal inquiry renews pressure to introduce ‘Hillsborough Law’

A new report into calls for a “Hillsborough Law”, published by parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR), has recommended the government consider introducing a statutory “duty of candour” for all public bodies.

Campaigners want the new legislation to prevent a repeat of the experiences of families of the 97 fans who were killed in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster from happening again.

In June 2021, two police forces agreed to pay damages to more than 600 survivors of the Hillsborough disaster and the family members of victims following a cover-up of the tragedy.

Louise Brookes, whose brother Andrew Mark Brookes was one of the Hillsborough victims, told Sky News that, while she welcomes the principle of a Hillsborough Law to prevent cover-ups in future, she is concerned at how seriously the duty of candour would be taken.

“You will never get people to tell the truth when it’s not in their best interests when they are protected by their bosses, when it’s the establishment,” she said.

“Until they start sending people to prison, nothing is going to change in this country.”

Pressure for a new law increased this week after the report of the inquiry into the infected blood scandal found it “could largely have been avoided” and that there was a “pervasive” cover-up to hide the truth.

The JCHR said it heard from witnesses who felt the lessons of Hillsborough “remained unlearnt” and some of the same issues continued to have an impact at other major hearings including the Manchester Arena inquiry.

“People need to understand that these cover-ups traumatise us for life,” Ms Brookes said.

She said victims of a series of scandals have experienced it.

Ms Brookes continued: “For us, the truth is these lies ruin our lives and have sent some people to their graves.

“Individuals need to find their moral compass.”

Last year, in a response to a report on Hillsborough by the former bishop of Liverpool, the Right Reverend James Jones, the government stopped short of introducing legislation, instead proposing a pledge to put the public interest ahead of its reputation.

But JCHR chairwoman Joanna Cherry KC said: “All of us on the human rights committee have huge respect and admiration for the courage and fortitude of the families of those who died at Hillsborough and the survivors. Just this week we have also seen how the victims of the infected blood scandal had to go through a similar struggle.

“It is shameful that their pain was compounded by the delays and obfuscation they faced in their search for the truth, and the decades they had to wait for justice.

“Even so many years later, lessons still have to be learnt to ensure that these failures are not repeated.”

Solicitor Elkan Abrahamson, a director of the Hillsborough Law Now campaign, told Sky News that the public was “fed up with officials lying all the time” and that victims were currently suffering a double injustice.

“There is an impetus from the public for this to be enacted.

“When you ask bereaved families what they want to achieve, almost always the answer is ‘We don’t want this to happen to anyone else’. When they see the government or other public officials covering up what went wrong that almost wounds them psychologically.

“It compounds the trauma they suffered in the first place. It is offensive, not just to the bereaved, but to us as a society.”

In response to the JCHR report, the Cabinet Office pointed to remarks by the Paymaster General John Glen in the Commons on the infected bloody inquiry report this week.

He told MPs that on issues like duty of candour “progress is being made in different ways”.

UK

Four men arrested at Rishi Sunak’s North Yorkshire home

Published

6 hours ago

June 25, 2024

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Four men arrested at Rishi Sunak's North Yorkshire home

Four men have been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass in the grounds of the prime minister’s home, police have confirmed.

The incident took place at Rishi Sunak’s constituency address in Kirby Sigston, North Yorkshire, while he was attending events in London to mark the Japanese state visit.

A police statement said officers were “with the four men within one minute of them entering the grounds”.

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The arrests are connected to a protest by campaigners from Youth Demand. It describes itself as a group of young people who want “the Tories and the Labour Party commit to a two-way arms embargo on Israel, and to stop all new oil and gas licences”.

A spokesperson for the group said three of those arrested were taking part in the demonstration, while the fourth person was an independent photographer.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “They were detained at around 12.40pm before being escorted off the property and arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass.

“The men, aged 52 from London, 43 from Bolton, 21 from Manchester, and 20 from Chichester, remain in police custody for questioning and enquiries are ongoing.”

It comes after a separate incident last summer, when protesters scaled the roof of Mr Sunak’s home.

They held up banners which said “NO NEW OIL” and draped the building in fabric. It happened while the prime minister and his family were away on holiday in California.

Amy Rugg-Easey, 33, Alexandra Wilson, 32, Michael Grant, 64, and Mathieu Soete, 38, have pleaded not guilty to criminal damage, with a two-day trial set to take place in July.

UK

UK weather: Hottest day of the year as temperatures hit 30C

Published

6 hours ago

June 25, 2024

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UK weather: Hottest day of the year as temperatures hit 30C

Today has been the hottest day of the year so far in the UK, the Met Office has said.

A high of 30C (86F) was recorded in Chertsey, Surrey.

It is the highest temperature in the UK since 10 September last year, the weather agency said.

Winterbourne in Gloucestershire recorded a high of 28.7C, while it was 28C in Pershore, Worcestershire, and 27C in Usk, Monmouthshire.

It could get even hotter on Wednesday – some areas could experience highs of 31C (87.8F), the Met Office added.

A yellow alert from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is in place for most of England until 5pm on Thursday.

It has warned there could be “significant impacts” in the health and social care sector, and an increase in mortality in over-65s and people with health conditions.

See the latest weather forecast where you are

Conditions are expected to cool a little just before the weekend, but it will remain warm.

The Met Office said the hot spell could become a heatwave, which occurs when temperatures go above a set threshold – which varies between regions – for three days in a row.

Music fans heading to Glastonbury are also set for a treat.

Festival gates open on Wednesday, when temperatures at Worthy Farm are forecast to reach 27C – and the weekend is shaping up to stay largely fine too.

However, there is a chance of a bit of rain on Saturday.

The hot spell marks a break from the rainy spring, which saw 32% more rain than average in England and Wales, making it the fifth wettest for England and the eighth wettest for Wales, said the Met Office.

UK

England top group at Euro 2024 after draw against Slovenia

Published

8 hours ago

June 25, 2024

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England top group at Euro 2024 after draw against Slovenia

England have topped their group at the Euros after a 0-0 draw with Slovenia, meaning they avoid some of the competition’s top teams in the next round.

The result in Cologne was enough to send Gareth Southgate’s men through as winners of Group C, on Tuesday evening.

The Three Lions have come under criticism over lacklustre performances in their group games, but managed to head into the knockouts in the strongest possible position.

Their performance even drew some boos from the crowd at half-time as they limped over the line against Slovenia.

Southgate’s men suffered the same problems as previous games, but with five points, the Three Lions made it through nonetheless and will play one of the best third-place finishers from Group D, E, or F in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday at 5pm.

Netherlands finished third in Group D and have impressed at times but suffered a surprise defeat to Ralf Rangnick’s Austria, losing 3-2, Tuesday evening.

In Group E, Romania, Belgium, Slovakia, and Ukraine are all tied on three points, and the Czech Republic are in third place in Group F, level on points with Georgia, but above them on goal difference.

By drawing Tuesday evening, England managed to book themselves a place on the easier side of the tournament, avoiding the likes of France, Portugal, Spain and Germany.

Trent Alexander Arnold was dropped from the starting XI in favour of Conor Gallagher in the only change to England’s team – only for the Chelsea man to be unceremoniously hooked at half-time.

The game was played in 24C heat as Germany enjoys something of a mini-heatwave, but instead of proving their critics wrong, England’s players initially seemed rattled by their words.

After a slow start to the game, a rare bright spark in the first half was when Bukayo Saka finished off a well-worked movement only for Phil Foden to have strayed offside in the build up.

In the 40th minute, Captain Harry Kane and Gallagher both also missed a golden opportunity to put England ahead.

Despite that, England were largely static and uninspired throughout the game.

There wasn’t much to celebrate for England and Slovenia celebrated qualifying as one of the best third-place finishers after the game.