Plea over ´secret´ Hillsborough files

Actor and Liverpool supporter Ricky Tomlinson has called for the release of all Cabinet papers relating to the Hillsborough disaster.

Overcrowding at an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest in April 1989 saw 96 fans die, after too many people were let into the stadium by police.

Tomlinson told The Mirror: “Cameron (Prime Minister David Cameron) is always going on about the truth but let’s see what he does about the release of the secret Cabinet papers.”

“He says all the documents have been handed to an independent panel. But why go through a third party? Why can’t the families see them straight away? All I want is for the families to get closure.”

“Twenty-two years is a long time to wait for those whose loved ones set off for a game of football only to come home in a coffin. It’s outrageous nobody’s been held to account.”

The tragedy led the government to launch the Taylor Report as an inquiry into the disaster. It made several recommendations on public safety at sporting events that have led to the introduction of all-seater stadia.

The Information Commissioner has ruled that a full release of papers was in the public interest, but the Cabinet papers reporting on discussion between government members are not due to be released until early next year, after the Hillsborough Independent Panel has finished its work.

“I was heading home from Manchester to Liverpool when I turned on the radio and heard the semi-final had been abandoned because of crowd trouble,” Tomlinson said.

“Then they said eight had died and the numbers just kept rising.”

“I’ll never forget the sight of Everton and Liverpool fans standing arm in arm outside the Shankly Gates.”