Hillsborough group meet for first time

Families of Liverpool fans killed in the Hillsborough disaster met for the first time today since an independent panel revealed a shocking cover-up which attempted to shift the blame for the tragedy from the police on to the victims.

The Hillsborough Families Support Group (HFSG) met at Anfield to discuss the next step in its campaign for justice for the 96 victims of the 1989 disaster.

High-profile lawyers for the campaign, Michael Mansfield QC and Lord Falconer, appeared via an internet videolink.

The damning Hillsborough Independent Panel report revealed a cover-up took place to shift the blame on to the victims and that 41 of the 96 lives lost at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium on April 15, 1989, could have been saved. The panel found that 164 police statements were altered, 116 of them to remove or alter "unfavourable" comments about the policing of the match and the unfolding disaster.

Mr Hicks said that if criminal prosecutions arise, then "one of the difficulties" would be that they would take precedence and could further delay the start of new inquests. He said he hoped the state - which had "connived" against the families in the past - would now help put things right.