Hillsborough bloodbath activist refuses British Empire honour


This video from Liverpool, England says about itself:

The best version of You’ll Never Walk Alone – 25th Anniversary of Hillsborough

15 April 2014

As sung by all that attended – Truly made the hair on the back of my neck stand up on end.

From the BBC:

Hillsborough campaigner Phil Scraton refuses OBE [Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire]

33 minutes ago

Hillsborough campaigner Prof Phil Scraton has turned down an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.

The author, who led the Hillsborough Independent Panel‘s research team, said he could not receive an honour in protest “at those who remained unresponsive” to help families and survivors affected by the disaster.

Ninety-six people died following a crush at Hillsborough on 15 April 1989.

In April, an inquest jury concluded the fans were unlawfully killed.

Prof Scraton’s book, Hillsborough: The Truth, is widely accepted as the definitive account of the disaster.

In a statement, he said: “I researched Hillsborough from 1989, publishing reports, articles and the first edition of Hillsborough: The Truth in 1990.

“Until 2009, and despite compelling evidence, successive governments declined to pursue a thorough, independent review of the context, consequences and aftermath of the disaster.

“This changed as a direct result of the families’ and survivors’ brave, persistent campaign.

“It led to the Hillsborough Independent Panel, its ground-breaking findings, new inquests and their crucially significant verdicts.”

Prof Scraton has previously received the Freedom of the City of Liverpool, the Political Studies Association‘s Campaigner of the Year Award and an Honorary Doctorate in Laws from the University of Liverpool “with gratitude and humility”.

But he added: “I headed the Panel’s research team and was a consultant to the families’ lawyers throughout the new inquests.

“I could not receive an honour on the recommendation of those who remained unresponsive to the determined efforts of bereaved families and survivors to secure truth and justice.” …

Prof Scraton acknowledged his decision “might come as a disappointment to some Hillsborough families, survivors and whoever nominated me”.

However, he added: “Finally, I could not accept an honour tied in name to the ‘British Empire’.

“In my scholarship and teaching I remain a strong critic of the historical, cultural and political contexts of imperialism and their international legacy.”

Fresh inquests in April concluded that the 96 football fans who died as a result of a crush at Hillsborough were unlawfully killed,

The jury found that match commander Ch Supt David Duckenfield was “responsible for manslaughter by gross negligence” due to a breach of his duty of care.

Police errors also added to a dangerous situation at the FA Cup semi-final.

After a 27-year campaign by victims’ families, the behaviour of Liverpool fans was exonerated.

The jury found they did not contribute to the danger unfolding at the turnstiles at the Leppings Lane end of Sheffield Wednesday’s ground.

12 thoughts on “Hillsborough bloodbath activist refuses British Empire honour

  1. Pingback: Hillsborough bloodbath activist refuses British Empire honour — Dear Kitty. Some blog | Indiĝenaj Inteligenteco

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  3. Tuesday 21st February 2017

    posted by Morning Star in Britain

    TWO senior Ukip officials resigned yesterday following the party’s “crass insensitivity” over the Hillsborough disaster.

    The party’s Liverpool branch chairman Stuart Monkcom and Merseyside regional chairman Adam Heatherington quit due to “upsetting and intolerable” comments made by leading party figures.

    Last week Ukip leader Paul Nuttall was forced to apologise after a statement on his website falsely claimed that he had lost “close personal friends” at Hillsborough.

    Millionaire backer Arron Banks said he was “sick to death” of fans of “milking” the disaster to death for political purposes.

    Hillsborough Family Support Group chairwoman Margaret Aspinall described Mr Nuttall’s admission as “appalling.”

    Mr Monkcom said in a statement that the resignations were unfortunate but the “unprofessional approach and crass insensitivity from high-profile people” was “upsetting and intolerable.”

    He said: “We identify most strongly with all the good people of Liverpool and most importantly the families of the Hillsborough victims, who have fought so long and hard for justice, in their condemnation of the way Ukip has handled these issues and have resigned our positions and membership of Ukip forthwith.”

    http://morningstaronline.co.uk/a-2cde-Kippers-resign-over-Hillsborough-claims#.WKwpS_KbIdU

    Like

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