Hillsborough Stadium Disaster, 1989
Liverpool will fall silent Monday to mark the 30th anniversary of the Hillsborough stadium disaster, where 96 fans lost their lives.
The city plans to come to a standstill at 3.06pm, the exact time that the tragic incident occurred during the FA Cup semifinal between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in 1989.
A banner featuring photographs of the 96 fans who died in Sheffield has also been hung outside St. George’s Hall, Liverpool, along with the message ‘Never Forgotten’.
A memorial service is due to be held at the city’s Cathedral and flags across Liverpool will be flown at half-mast. The Town Hall also plans to ring its bell 96 times to remember those lost in the tragedy.
Liverpool’s football stadium, Anfield, will not be hosting a public memorial service this year due to ongoing proceedings relating to a possible retrial. However, the Kop Anfield’s iconic stand will be open to fans between 1-4pm GMT, offering a chance for reflection.
Liverpool and Chelsea observed a minutes silence for the 30th Anniversary of the the Hillsborough football stadium disaster on Sunday.
However BBC reports that earlier this year, former Ch Supt David Duckenfield, who was the match commander, stood trial for the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 fans at the FA Cup semi-final. He denied the charge.
Under the law at the time, there can be no prosecution for the 96th victim, Tony Bland, as he died in 1993 following brain damage – more than a year and a day after the disaster.
The jury failed to reach a verdict on Mr Duckenfield but the Crown Prosecution Service said it planned to seek a retrial. However, Mr Duckenfield’s lawyers said they would oppose the prosecutors’ application for a retrial.
Ex-Sheffield Wednesday club secretary Graham Mackrell was found guilty of a health and safety charge.
The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has told CNN that it will now seek a retrial in front of a new jury. However, the CPS said it understood the defense team would seek to stay proceedings.
Plans for speeches, performances and prayers on Monday evening have been cancelled by the city’s council to avoid a “legal risk” to any “future decisions made regarding ongoing legal proceedings”, Mr Anderson said.
Wreaths will be laid at St George’s Hall in a ceremony on Monday morning, with 96 lanterns lit in memory of the victims.
The city’s commemorations include:
An afternoon service at the Anglican Cathedral from 14:45 BST.
Flags will be flown at half-mast and the town hall bells will toll 96 times.
Mersey Ferries will sound their horns and traffic will be stopped for one minute at both tunnels at 15:06 BST.
St George’s Hall will be lit up red every evening this week.
The words “Never Forgotten” will be displayed on screens outside Lime Street rail station and on the M62.
