A crowdfunding page has been set up to help five Hillsborough families after they have been ordered to pay £28,000 court fees of former South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable, David Crompton.
The former force chief was fired by the South Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Alan Billings after he was accused of trying to shift the blame onto Liverpool fans for the 1989 tragedy.
Last April, new inquests ruled that the 96 people who died at Hillsborough were unlawfully killed due to the failings of South Yorkshire Police. Mr Crompton is seeking a judicial review at the High Court into Dr Billings’ decision, which will be heard this month.
The families applied to be allowed to play a part in the hearing but were refused. Lady Justice Sharp then ordered the relatives to pay the associated legal fees.
Hillsborough survivor, Diane Lynn, set up the crowdfunding page after speaking to the families on Facebook.
She told JMU Journalism: “These are five ordinary families who have fought for nearly 28 years for justice for their family members that died at Hillsborough.
“They have been knocked down on numerous occasions but have got back up and fought on, to a point where the truth was finally exposed. They have now been knocked yet again with a ruling of having to pay legal fees for an ex-South Yorkshire Police constable, despite having been the victims of a historic miscarriage of justice.”
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More than £10,000 has already been pledged and the families have agreed that any extra money raised will be given to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
Diane added: “I feel that anything that affects families or other survivors has an affect on us all. I was aware of the general feeling of wanting to help the families concerned and was hopeful that as much money as possible could be raised, but it has gone through the £10,000 mark quicker than anyone expected which is fantastic.”