Three survivors have taken their lives since the ordeal in May
Three survivors of the Hillsborough disaster have taken their own lives following the events that marred the Champions League Final in May.
Liverpool fans attending the final in Paris were treated abhorrently with many supporters unable to get into the ground, despite having tickets, and stuck in chaotic queues.
Around 15,000 Reds fans were held in a dangerous queue near a ticket checkpoint before being denied access by the authorities. Police in Paris directed the fans to the checkpoint with an alternative route which had been identified as a hazard since 2016.
Authorities also used heavy-handed tactics, including pepper spray, tear gas and as riot police beating fans.
The events drew comparisons to the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, when 97 Liverpool fans sadly lost their lives. For those who survived, the events that occurred in May this year brought back painful memories of what happened during the FA Cup semi-final tie against Nottingham Forest 33 years ago.
During the Hillsborough Fringe meeting, it was revealed that three survivors from the disaster have sadly taken their own lives following what happened in the build up to Liverpool vs Real Madrid.
Ian Byrne, the Labour MP for Liverpool West Derby, spoke of the ‘heartbreaking’ accounts he heard on Twitter. He wrote: “It broke my heart listening to Peter Scarfe from @HillsboroughSu1 tell us yesterday at @NowHillsborough fringe that 3 survivors of Hillsborough have taken their own lives since the events around Paris in May.”
It broke my heart listening to Peter Scarfe from @HillsboroughSu1 tell us yesterday at @NowHillsborough fringe that 3 survivors of Hillsborough have taken their own lives since the events around Paris in May💔
— lan Byrne MP (@IanByrneMP) September 27, 2022
Among those speaking were also children of those who sadly lost their lives with Charlie Hennessy, who her lost her dad James at the age of six, saying: “We can’t let our family members’ deaths be in vain.”
A quite stunning speech from @charlhennessy1 who lost her dad James at Hillsborough when she was just six years old. She says: “We can’t let our family members’ deaths be in vain.”
— Beth Lindop (@beth_lindop) September 26, 2022
Related links:
- Report on Champions League final policing links Hillsborough to hooliganism
- UEFA pre-planned statement blaming fans for Champions League Final delays
- Liverpool fans unfairly blamed for Champions League chaos, French Senate report finds
