ANGRY MOB

If any single event could possibly expose the depths that a tabloid newspaper will plumb for a shocking headline, then the response of The Sun newspaper to the Hillsborough disaster is surely it.

20 years ago on Saturday 15th April 1989, 96 Liverpool supporters died and 730 fans were injured when fans became crushed in a football ground. Four days later the Wednesday issue of The Sun newspaper lead with the headline: 'THE TRUTH', followed by three sub-headings: 'Some fans picked pockets of victims'; 'Some fans urinated on the brave cops'; 'Some fans beat up PC giving kiss of life'.

Although the claims have never been substantiated and were exposed as lies by those present at the ground at the time (as well as the ongoing controversies of police statements changing after the event) Kelvin MacKenzie - then editor - has never issued a proper apology. The Sun did issue an apology - without reservations - on 7th July 2004, but the tone of the apology meant it was not accepted without controversy.

 Those that believe tabloid journalists are responsible, truthful and admit when they are wrong should take on board the magnitude of the lies perpetrated by The Sun on not just this occasion. You could also consider the recent coverage of Ian Tomlinson's death, moving as it did from protesters attacking police trying to help, to the real truth that the police had actually assualted Tomlinson.

Hillsborough was a terrible event, made worse by the injustice of The Sun smear campaign against those involved. Most Liverpudlians boycott The Sun to this day, I would advise anyone to do the same - no matter what free crap they are offering with the paper.

UPDATE

Margin over at Pseuds' corner has an excellent post on a near miss at Hillsborough in 1981, when Spurs played Wolves in an FA Cup Semi-Final. Good policing narrowly avoided a disaster 8 years before it eventually befall Liverpool fans. It is a must read post for understanding just why Liverpool fans are so angry with the police about their actions or lack of action that day.

Full Coverage

The Guardian: 'Hillsborough: how stories of disaster police were altered'

Twenty years on, the families of the 96 fans who died in the semi-final crush are still fighting to force police to acknowledge that changing officers' statements amounted to a cover-up

Hillsborough Justice Campaign: 20th Anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster 2009

15th April 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster. Twenty long years have passed since the avoidable and totally unnecessary death of 96 Liverpool fans – and still no justice.

 The Telegraph: Hillsborough remembered: Kenny Dalglish was shining light in Liverpool's darkest hour

It was early in the morning and Anfield stood empty except for one man. Kenny Dalglish had arrived just after dawn, let himself in, hurried through the dressing-room area, instinctively reached up and touched the sign that read "This is Anfield" and then stepped up on to the pitch.

 BBC: Shock waves of a tragedy

On 15 April 1989, the Hillsborough disaster sent shock waves across Britain. At Sheffield Wednesday's stadium, 96 Liverpool fans were fatally injured in a crush during the FA Cup semi-final.

This is Anfield: The Hillsborough Disaster

In memory of the 96 who died, April 15th 1989. May they rest in peace and never be forgotten.

The First Post: In pictures: The Hillsborough Disaster

The Times: The Hillsborough disaster: 20 years of grieving

Blogs

 The Soul of Man Under Capitalism: Remembering Hillsborough - Part 1, Part 2 and part 3

Merrick: Hillsborough: Twenty years, no justice

qwghlm: 20 Years on