British PM says sorry for disaster atHillsborough

LONDON — British Prime Minister David Cameron apologized Wednesday to the families of the 96 victims of the 1989 Hillsborough football stadium disaster for the “double injustice” they suffered.

Following the release of thousands of documents, he told parliament the Liverpool supporters had suffered not only from official failings that led to the deaths, but also from police attempts to blame the victims.

“On behalf of the government – and indeed our country – I am profoundly sorry for this double injustice that has been left uncorrected for so long,” a sombre Cameron said in a statement to lawmakers.

He was speaking after the Hillsborough Independent Panel, a seven-member body led by the Bishop of Liverpool, published a report into Britain’s worst sporting disaster following a review of previously unseen files.

“With the weight of the new evidence in this report, it is right for me today as prime minister to make a proper apology to the families of the 96 for all they have suffered over the past 23 years,” Cameron said. “Indeed, the new evidence that we are presented with today makes clear that these families have suffered a double injustice.

“The injustice of the appalling events – the failure of the state to protect their loved ones and the indefensible wait to get to the truth. — AFP