'We're frustrated and tired of Hillsborough Law wait'

Bereaved families calling for the introduction of a Hillsborough Law have said they are "frustrated" and "tired" of waiting.

The legislation would create a legal obligation for public authorities to co-operate with and tell the truth to inquiries.

Margaret Aspinall, whose 18 year old son James died at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final, said she felt there was something "behind the scenes" stopping it, adding: "We always get told about national security... but national security has nothing to do with what we want."

The government said it was "taking the time to get this right", adding that the disaster would "remain in our national consciousness for its tragedy and disgraceful injustice".

Aspinall told BBC Breakfast: "It's really frustrating.

"I'm tired now. I'm really old. I was only a young woman when Hillsborough happened.

"You know, I've grandchildren I haven't watched growing up."

Charlotte Hennessy, whose father Jimmy died in the disaster, added: "We shouldn't have to be relying on bereaved parents to uncover cover-ups by professionals that are there to protect and serve."

Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to introduce the Public Office Accountability Bill by 15 April 2024, to mark the 36th anniversary of the disaster.

It would enforce a legal duty of candour to public officials and public servants, but its introduction has been delayed over questions relating to the scrutiny of the security services.

• Hillsborough Law - what is it and how did we get here?

Aspinall said: "I'm not going to call the prime minister because I think he wants to do his best to get this whole law through.

"There's other things behind the scenes stopping it and what we always get told about national security.

"I really do not understand why national security is getting brought into this. It does not come into the cover-ups of the likes of Grenfell, Hillsborough, contaminated blood, nuclear test victims."

Aspinall said: "It's not for the Hillsborough families - this is for the good of the ordinary people of this country, that they would never have to go through what we've gone through."

Hennessy told of the personal toll fighting for the truth takes.

She said: "We're never going to be able to secure prosecutions, especially not for Hillsborough, that ship's sailed now but I think one thing that we've always agreed on is that we never want anybody to ever experience what we've endured.

"I cannot tell you how traumatic it is to find out 23 years later that what happened to your dad is actually not the truth and to have believed this narrative for so long to then have to process that or what you were told and all that paperwork that you had was a lie."

Hennessy said if the new law was altered it would not be a "Hillsborough Law"

"It is about protecting other people, making sure that there is those things in place to stop this from happening.

She said Hillsborough campaigners, including Aspinall, had used their life savings and fundraised to bring private prosecutions, and "if they hadn't, there's lots of children that were like me, that would never have got the answers that they did in the end".

A government spokesman said: "New legislation will ensure the state must always act for the people it serves by preventing cover-ups and ensuring accountability in public office.

"It will apply to the intelligence services and must protect our national security.

"As we have done throughout this process, we are taking the time to get this right and ensuring we never compromise on national security."

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