Liverpool remembers Hillsborough dead

The Liverpool football team joined thousands of supporters at a memorial service today to mark the 15th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

Close relatives of those who died stood alongside Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard and manager Gerard Houllier for a one-minute silence at the Kop stand of the Anfield Stadium.

Ninety-six Liverpool fans died as a result of overcrowding in the Leppings Lane end of Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough ground on April 15, 1989.

They had travelled to the city for an FA Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest.

Today 96 roses were laid at the ground’s Hillsborough memorial to mark the tragedy. The name of each victim was read out as a candle was lit for each of the dead.

Around 3,000 people attended the service, which included a performance by the SFX Boys Choir, who sang Adagio, plus their own version of You’ll Never Walk Alone.

The chairman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, Trevor Hicks, made his last speech at the service before standing down from the job.

Mr Hicks, whose daughters 19-year-old Sarah and 15-year-old Vicky died at Hillsborough, said: “

Once again we are gathered in this temporary church to remember the 96 men, women and children who died at Hillsborough 15 years ago today.

“They went to Sheffield on a beautiful April day to watch a football game which cost them their lives and made thousands of others wretched beyond belief.

“As I look around the stadium today, just as I have done for 15 years, I see the faces of families, friends, fellow supporters and members of the public, and then I remember why we must have this memorial service.”

Mr Hicks handed control of the committee over to Phil Hammond, 55, currently the vice chairman of the group. Mr Hammond’s 14-year-old son, also called Philip, died in the disaster.

Over the last decade and a half, the Hillsborough Family Support Group has campaigned for the truth about the tragedy to be revealed.

The 1989 Taylor Report into the disaster criticised the senior officers on duty for a “failure to control”, but an inquest two years later ruled the deaths were accidental and no prosecutions were brought.

In 1998, Home Secretary Jack Straw decided against holding a new public inquiry.

The service today ended amid emotional scenes as the entire crowd joined together to sing You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Mr Hicks, who claimed that 15 years later the families were still seeking justice, summed it up when he said: “Even now, the pain does not go away.”