On the 31st anniversary of their deaths, Sean Bresnahan remembers the 96 supporters of Liverpool Football Club, unlawfully killed by South Yorkshire Police at Hillsborough Stadium. 

31 years ago today, 96 football fans went to an FA Cup semi-final and never came home. Not one person, as yet, has been held to account for what happened in Sheffield that horrific evening — be they from the football authorities or the police. Why? Because they were Liverpool supporters, so therefore must have been scum. 


The Hillsborough stadium did not have the relevant health and safety certificate — it was years out of date. The crush barriers were inadequate, being too low and too far apart. Indeed some had even been removed and never replaced.

When David Duckenfield gave the order to open the gate he unleashed a deadly human tidal wave onto the Leppings Lane. Police failure to control the crush, by failing to close off the central pen, where many supporters where already trapped, caused the tragedy. 

Young children were killed in that crush. The establishment expected us to believe they were hooligans...


I remember still the sea of flowers on the sod of Anfield — the wall-to-wall coverage and the tear-jerking rendition of ‘Ferry Across The Mersey’ by Gerry Marsden. A truly awful tragedy. All of these years on, thinking on what happened, it still seems surreal.

To those killed unlawfully on that terrace, we will never forget you. 15th April 1989 is etched into our consciousness — a part of our very being.

Justice for the 96 — You’ll Never Walk Alone.

 #JFT96 #YNWA

⏩ Sean Bresnahan is a Liverpool FC supporter.

31 Years Ago

On the 31st anniversary of their deaths, Sean Bresnahan remembers the 96 supporters of Liverpool Football Club, unlawfully killed by South Yorkshire Police at Hillsborough Stadium. 

31 years ago today, 96 football fans went to an FA Cup semi-final and never came home. Not one person, as yet, has been held to account for what happened in Sheffield that horrific evening — be they from the football authorities or the police. Why? Because they were Liverpool supporters, so therefore must have been scum. 


The Hillsborough stadium did not have the relevant health and safety certificate — it was years out of date. The crush barriers were inadequate, being too low and too far apart. Indeed some had even been removed and never replaced.

When David Duckenfield gave the order to open the gate he unleashed a deadly human tidal wave onto the Leppings Lane. Police failure to control the crush, by failing to close off the central pen, where many supporters where already trapped, caused the tragedy. 

Young children were killed in that crush. The establishment expected us to believe they were hooligans...


I remember still the sea of flowers on the sod of Anfield — the wall-to-wall coverage and the tear-jerking rendition of ‘Ferry Across The Mersey’ by Gerry Marsden. A truly awful tragedy. All of these years on, thinking on what happened, it still seems surreal.

To those killed unlawfully on that terrace, we will never forget you. 15th April 1989 is etched into our consciousness — a part of our very being.

Justice for the 96 — You’ll Never Walk Alone.

 #JFT96 #YNWA

⏩ Sean Bresnahan is a Liverpool FC supporter.

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