Sarah Hicks, 19, and her sister Victoria, 15, were among the 97 people unlawfully killed at Hillsborough in 1989
Sarah and Victoria Hicks, who both died at Hillsborough
Sarah and Victoria Hicks, who both died at Hillsborough
View 4 Images
The parents of two teenage sisters killed in the Hillsborough disaster have returned to the House of Lords, more than 30 years after their civil case was dismissed there, to launch a new campaign to correct a "false" legal record of how their daughters died.
Jenni and Trevor Hicks accuse South Yorkshire Police of "adding insult to injury" by refusing to join them in applying for a statement in open court that could immediately correct a 1992 House of Lords ruling which wrongly stated their daughters died within minutes.
Sarah Hicks, 19, and her sister Victoria, 15, were among the 97 people unlawfully killed at Hillsborough in 1989.
The couple were joined by senior lawyers and politicians at an event in the House of Lords tonight, February 9, where they called for the introduction of a new legal safeguard, dubbed "Hicks' Rule", to allow victims to correct inaccurate court records when later evidence proves them wrong.
South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Lauren Poultney was invited to attend but declined. Instead, a fresh apology from the force was read out by the Hicks' solicitor, Nia Williams of Saunders Law, who said the words were "hollow without correcting the legal record".
Sarah and Victoria Hicks together at school
Sarah and Victoria Hicks together at school
View 4 Images
In her statement, Ms Poultney offered "unreserved apologies" for the pain caused by both the disaster and the force's decision to contest the Hicks' case in the early 1990s. She said: "If that case was to be re-run today, it would not be defended by South Yorkshire Police, and I apologise for the fact that the case was contested in 1991.
"I offer my sincere apologies for the pain and suffering endured by Sarah and Vicki.
"I offer my unreserved apologies to each of you, to all of those who lost loved ones, and particularly those who lost their lives, during, and as a result of the major disaster at Hillsborough Stadium.
"It is a source of tremendous regret that the serious errors and mistakes of South Yorkshire Police led to lives being lost and also caused enormous pain, suffering and distress both to the individuals who lost their lives but also to their family and friends."
However, the Hicks family claim the police have so far refused to take the simple legal step required to put the record straight.
In the early 1990s, Jenni and Trevor Hicks brought a test case against South Yorkshire Police on behalf of their daughters' estates, arguing the girls experienced pain and suffering before death. The case was rejected at every level, culminating in a House of Lords ruling in 1992 which held the sisters had suffered "swift and sudden" deaths, based on the assumption they lost consciousness within 30 seconds.
Jenni Hicks
Jenni Hicks(Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)
View 4 Images
That assumption, known as the "30-second rule", was later proven to be wrong. The Hillsborough Independent Panel and the fresh inquests between 2014 and 2016 concluded many victims remained conscious for prolonged periods, experiencing distress and injury.
Former prime minister Theresa May, now Baroness May of Maidenhead, backed the campaign, urging South Yorkshire Police to agree to a statement in open court to clarify the truth. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham also attended, questioning how a public body could allow a false public record to stand.
He said: “Why are these parents still in this place having to argue about the truth about what happened to their daughters? You can’t help but think that we still have a problematic issue with truth in this country.
“How can any public body, particularly a police force, allow a false public record? Surely now we've got to the point when they should be immediately writing to Trevor and Jenni to say they will testify in open court to correct it. Otherwise, the words are hollow."
Trevor and Jenni Hicks
Trevor and Jenni Hicks
View 4 Images
He pledged to fight for Hicks’ Rule because it could “no longer be the case that the wrongdoer in a situation can hold the decision as to whether or not the record is corrected.”
Trevor Hicks said: “South Yorkshire Police could fix this almost immediately, but they are refusing to do so. If they truly want to support us, they should make that application with us.”
Jenni Hicks added: “Instead, the Chief Constable, who claims to want to help us, is forcing us to go down the legal route yet again. Haven’t we suffered and campaigned enough over the last three decades to get to the truth and to uncover a cover up which started on the night of the disaster. I call on South Yorkshire Police to finally do the right thing.
“The Hicks’ Rule will help all victims of Hillsborough by correcting the record. But it will also help many others in future who are victims of a cover up, or a miscarriage of justice like we have been.”
The proposed rule, supported by Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws KC, would allow victims to apply to correct historic legal findings without requiring the consent of other parties. A draft clause has now been put forward as part of the Victims and Courts Bill currently before Parliament.
Friend pays tribute to 'salt of the earth' woman found dead in flat
Friend pays tribute to 'salt of the earth' woman found dead in flat
Police officer dies in 'tragic incident' as family pays tribute
Police officer dies in 'tragic incident' as family pays tribute
Buckingham Palace releases new statement as King Charles 'ready to support' police
Buckingham Palace releases new statement as King Charles 'ready to support' police
Driving force behind Liverpool One dies aged 82
Driving force behind Liverpool One dies aged 82
Murder accused denies having 'bad blood' with dad shot dead outside girlfriend's home
Murder accused denies having 'bad blood' with dad shot dead outside girlfriend's home
Knife-wielding thug marched Morrisons worker to safe during store raid
Knife-wielding thug marched Morrisons worker to safe during store raid