Hillsborough memorial Andy Burnham
Horns of a dilemma: Was the Hillsborough memorial crowd at Anfield wrong or right to barrack Government minister Andy Burnham?
I was in the Kop and felt uncomfortable as he was shouted down; but I believe his response in going to the Cabinet to seek disclosure of information proved that the crowd's actions had merit.
My colleague - Paddy Shennan - a brilliant journalist and versed in this city way beyond what I can ever hope to live or learn - felt that in the end they had gone too far and had breached the sanctity of a religious ceremony.
Paddy believes the mass chanting at a key point was valid and should have been left at that. The subsequent catcalls and isolated shouts from around the stadium were unnecessary and unworthy of the occasion.The 'Justice for the 96' chant at Burnham's first pause on mentioning Gordon Brown's name was understandable, acceptable, and perhaps should have ended there.
Burnham is, I believe, a good bloke. A Labour high-flyer but a man who understands basic human sentiment. He knows more than most about The Truth.
He was placed - or placed himself - in a difficult position. Speaking was ill-judged on the face of it, but may be for the greater good ultimately.
The families of the 96 have been betrayed by the Establishment. Of that, both Paddy Shennan and I now have no doubt. More scrutiny is needed and Burnham's trip into the Lion's Den may bring it about.
He is a brave man. There are none braver than the families of the 96 and the empathy they discover may promote a satisfactory conclusion to 20 years of misery.
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I attended my first memorial yesterday, not because I didn't want to but because I didn't know if could I face it. I travelled from over yesterday from Ireland to pay my respects to the 96 and their families.
I was pulled out of the Leppings Lane and was one of the lucky ones.I watched the policeman open the gate to let the fans in and to this day I have felt sick at what each successive Government and it's employees have done to cover up this vile act on the 96, their families and the countless thousands whose lives were changed that day forever.
I couldn't believe when Andy Burnham got up and gave a speech on Gordon Brown's behalf.
Nothing new from the Government and usual the same message but never any action on the injustice.
When he said that they "would never be forgotten" it enraged me and it was me that shouted out JUSTICE.
I make no apology for this, due to the fact that the State have done everything in their power in the last twenty years to suppress the evidence and have closed every door on the families quest for justice.
Then, and only then will they have some closure on their compounded grief due to fact that nobody has ever been held accountable although the evidence is indisputable.Each and every every one of them have been forced to carry this extra burden throughout the last twenty years.
All files and testimonies should now be released without censure.
Until this is done and a new inquiry is held then any words from the government will always ring hollow.
What I will apologise for is if, I offended any of the families by my shout for Justice but to nobody else.
We will never forget the 96 and will not allow others to forget them either.
JFT96
As a Scouser living away from Liverpool I viewed the 20th Hillsborough Service with a mixture of sadness,emotion and pride.The families, friends and supporters of the victims are inspirational and have achieved so much in their search for Justice.However I think that rather than besmirching the service the spontaneous chant of justice for the 96,may at last move this Government to implement an indpendent inquiry into the tragedy.Andy Burnham showed great dignity and will no doubt impress on his ministerial collegues the need for immediate action.He does not appear a man of straw so perhaps he will act quicker than those involved in the Michael Shields case. Dave.Brine.