Emeritus Professor Phil Scraton, Queen’s University Belfast
Based on three decades of research into the 1989 Hillsborough Disaster, this lecture examines how investigations and inquests failed the bereaved and survivors. It reviews the Hillsborough Independent Panel’s landmark 2012 report, the quashing of ‘accidental death’ verdicts, new inquests, and the jury’s finding of ‘unlawful killing’ due to stadium safety failures and police mismanagement. Finally, it explores the Hillsborough Law campaign, arguing that critical social research – focused on truth recovery and exposing institutional deceit – can be transformative in securing acknowledgement and accountability.