Hillsborough families in Derry next week

Families who lost loved ones in the Sheffield football disaster will take part in an event focusing on the pursuit of truth and justice on Wednesday evening (June 15).

Organised by the Bloody Sunday Trust, the discussion forum will take place at An Culturlann, Great James’ Street at 7.30 pm

Taking part are Margaret Aspinall, chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, who lost her son in the 1989 disaster, Sue Roberts, whose brother died, and Jenni Hicks, who lost both her daughters.

Also on the panel will be Michael McColgan, originally from Derry, who is legal adviser to the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign.

The group is pushing for an inquiry into the policing of a miners’ strike in the Yorkshire town in 1984.

Both Hillsborough and Orgreave were policed by the South Yorkshire Police.

In relation to Orgreave, some members of this police force have been accused of violence, brutality, false arrest, perjury and fabrication of evidence.

Wednesday’s discussion at An Culturlann will be chaired by Paul O’Connor, of the Derry-based Pat Finucane Centre.

Robin Percival, chairman of the Bloody Sunday Trust, hopes Derry people will give the Hillsborough and Orgreave delegations a warm welcome.

“On the 6th anniversary of the publication of the Saville Report, we are bringing together a unique and heroic group of people who will be discussing the issues thrown up by their respective campaigns, the lessons they have learned and why the issues of truth and justice remain significant far beyond individual campaigns.

‘In recent years, we have seen startling proof of what many human rights campaigners have known for many years. Running like a silver thread through the Hillsborough, Bloody Sunday, Loughinisland,Omagh, Orgreave, Kingsmill, Birmingham cases and more, has been the failure of the state - primarily the police - to protect civilians and to bring perpetrators to justice,’ Mr Percival added.

Wednesday’s event is open to the public. The Bloody Sunday Trust, which is publicly supported by 120 family members and survivors of the 1972 Derry massacre, is sponsoring the event.