Relatives of the Liverpool supporters who died in the Hillsborough disaster are examining previously unseen documents about what happened.
The 96 fans died after a crush on the terraces of Sheffield Wednesday’s ground on 15 April 1989.
Many relatives believe more lives could have been saved and hope the papers will shed new light on events.
Sheffield Wednesday issued an apology on Wednesday morning to all the families whose relatives were involved.
The club said on its website: “Throughout the compilation stage, the club has worked closely with the panel and the other donating organisations to ensure that, in line with the ethos of maximum disclosure, we have been totally transparent.
“The club would like to offer our sincere condolences and an apology to all the families who have suffered as a consequence of the tragic events of 15 April 1989.”
The families are looking at the Hillsborough Independent Panel report at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral.
The panel has been scrutinising more than 400,000 pages of documents for the past 18 months.
A number of the victims’ families have been campaigning for more than 20 years for the papers to be released.
The relatives started going into the cathedral to view the documents at 08:00 BST, before they are released to the public this afternoon.
‘Take ownership’
Cabinet papers are not usually published in the UK until 30 years after they have been written, but MPs agreed to their full, uncensored disclosure last year.
Approval came after 140,000 people signed a government e-petition, set up by Liverpool fan Brian Irvine, to trigger a House of Commons debate on the issue.
The panel, chaired by Bishop of Liverpool the Right Reverend James Jones, said it had analysed more than 400,000 pages of documents relating to the disaster from more than 80 organisations.
Ninety-five fans were crushed to death and hundreds more injured on the overcrowded terraces of the Hillsborough stadium, which was hosting an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
The 96th victim, Tony Bland, was left in a coma after the disaster and died in 1993.
An independent inquiry led by Lord Chief Justice Taylor found the main cause of the disaster was a failure in crowd control by South Yorkshire Police.
But the victims’ families hope the papers will shed more light as to exactly what caused the tragedy and what happened in the aftermath.
They want to know how the cabinet and then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher responded in the days and months that followed.
Margaret Aspinall, whose son James died at Hillsborough, said: “I think it is going to be hopefully a good day for the city, for the fans, but most importantly for the families, and hopefully we get what we should have had 23 years ago.”
Mrs Aspinall, who is also chairwoman of the Hillsborough Families Support Group, said it was what the families and the fans have been fighting for for 23 years.
Jenni Hicks lost both her daughters at Hillsborough – Victoria, who was 15 and 19-year-old Sarah.
Talking about the way the disaster was handled by police, she said: “They lied and tried to pass on the blame to the Liverpool supporters, to whom they owe a huge apology.
“They should take ownership of their actions that day, there needs to be some kind of accountability for their actions.”
She added: “I am pleased that at last all the documents are there for everybody to see and I am hoping there will be enough evidence there to overturn the verdict of accidental death, but on a personal level I think it’s going to open up a number of old wounds.”
Vigil planned
The original inquest in 1991 ruled all the victims were dead 15 minutes after the game had kicked off at 15:00.
But Anne Williams, the mother of Hillsborough victim Kevin Williams, has called for the government to open a new inquest under section 13 of the Coroner’s Act.
She claims Kevin was still alive at 16:00 on the day of the disaster and did not die from traumatic asphyxia.
Mrs Williams started an online petition on the government e-petition website which was signed by more than 100,000 people.
A statement on the e-petition website said the Attorney General, Dominic Grieve QC MP, has agreed he will look at the applications made to his predecessor before he determines whether the evidence supports a new inquest.
People in Liverpool are being asked to observe a two-minute silence as a mark of respect to the 96 who died.
During the silence – to be held at 15:06 BST to mark the time the game was stopped – the bells at Liverpool Town Hall Municipal Buildings on Dale Street and Liverpool Parish Church will ring out 96 times.
A vigil to mark the release of the papers will take place at St George’s Plateau near to Liverpool Lime Street station at 18:00.
