Monday 12 November 2012

Please help a dying mother

I break the long silence on my blog to ask you to help someone.  Her name is Anne Williams.  She is an incredible woman.  She has spent over 23 years of her life campaigning for justice for her son, Kevin, who was a victim in an unimaginable disaster.  He died alongside 95 others.  Many people in positions of authority were to blame but were never held to account.  I'm talking about the events that took place on 15th April, 1989 at Hillsborough Football Stadium, Sheffield.

Thankfully, nearly a quarter of a century after that awful day, justice seems to be within touching distance.  The verdict of "accidental death" as ruled by the inquest in 1989 is likely to be quashed and a new inquest will be set up.  Like many relatives of the victims of Hillsborough she never collected Kevin's death certificate as she was so insulted by the ruling.  She founded a charity: Help for Hillsborough.  On her web page you can read the details about Kevin's case, discovered personally by Anne.  The word "thorough" would do Anne's astonishingly detailed research and investigations an injustice.  Her work would put most police detectives to shame.

Kevin died of different symptoms to most of the other survivors.  Most who died that day suffered traumatic asphyxia.  Something as simple as a tube inserted into Kevin's windpipe would have saved him.  That is not to say he was the only one who could have been saved.  The Hillsborough Independent Panel found that at least 41 people could have saved if the emergency services had done their jobs properly.

Tragically, though, Anne has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and unless something is done to speed up the process she will never see justice done.  She will not live to see those who were to blame being brought to account (by way of criminal proceedings, as will probably be the case) but she at least wishes to live long enough to see a new inquest for Kevin.  This is where you can help.

An e-petition has been started to speed up the process for Kevin's inquest so Anne can see the original verdict overruled.  After so many years of campaigning and fighting for Kevin and the rest of the 96 it is the least she deserves.  This is the link:

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/40925


It takes just a couple of minutes to provide the required details.  After that you will be sent an email with a link.  You must click on this link for your name to be added to the thousands who have already done so.

If Kevin's case is fast-tracked, though, it will set a precedent for the other 95 inquests.

It is fairly well known - not least by my followers on twitter (see @justindaish) that I am a Liverpool supporter.  I have sung many times at Anfield - as well as other stadia - demanding the truth and justice regarding Hillsborough.  Thankfully, as was widely publicised, on 12th September 2012 we received the truth and the full extent of the police and government cover-up was exposed.  The disgusting lies that were spread in the wake of the disaster have been exposed for what they are.  Liverpool supporters were not to blame in the slightest.  The culpability lies solely at the door of the various authorities involved; the very people who should have been watching over the safety of those in attendance.

Now we need to help Anne see justice for her son while she still can.  We need 100,000 names.  Once 100,000 people sign, parliament are required by law to debate the issue.

After more than 23 years, justice for the 96 is so close but yet agonisingly out of reach for Anne.  Please help her.  Please sign.  If you do, a mother's unwavering dedication to fighting for her son may be rewarded in time.

Here's the link again:


Remember to click on the link that you'll be sent in an email!

Please sign.  Time is of the essence.

Thank you.

YNWA
JFT96