Hillsborough: announcement on location of new inquest expected

It is expected the location and time of a new inquest into the deaths of 96 Liverpool football supporters at Hillsborough will be revealed today.

At a hearing in London, coroner Lord Justice Goldring will hear from families of the victims about where and when they want the fresh inquest to take place. A new inquest was ordered when three High Court Judges quashed the original accidental death verdicts in December.

A spokesman for the inquest said the choice of London for today's hearing was no indication the full inquest will be held in the capital.

He said: "The families and other interested parties have today been sent letters informing them a pre-inquest hearing will take place in London today.

"As the letters make clear, the coroner will hear submissions on the timing and location of the inquests themselves before making any decision."

The 96 Liverpool supporters died in a crush at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium on Saturday, April 15, 1989 where their team were to meet Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final.

A damning report published last September by the Hillsborough Independent Panel laid bare a cover-up which attempted to shift the blame for the tragedy on to its victims.