If you know David Duckenfield, I would be very grateful if you could get a copy of this open letter to him.
I write more in hope than expectation, but I know that if I had been in charge when 96 people were fatally crushed to death, and I had then lied about it, I might want to at least try and put the record straight.
Thank you for your time.
WATCH: Part one, Hillsborough, Heading for Disaster is online and ready to watch here –. http://thehillsboroughdisasterdocumentary.com/2012/09/13/hillsborough-heading-for-disaster-part-one/
AN OPEN LETTER TO MR DAVID DUCKENFIELD
Dear Mr Duckenfield,
My name is Mike Nicholson, and I am currently making a documentary about the human disaster which happened on the 15th April 1989, at the Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield. I am an individual, and not working with, or for any larger media organisation. I’m just one man. In light of the Hillsborough Independent Report today, I am trying to contact you once again via the internet.
As you know you were the match commander that day and as detailed in the Taylor Report, you have admitted to lying about Liverpool fans breaking down a gate to force entry. Lord Justice Taylor called it ‘a disgraceful lie’ in the report, which I am sure you can have no complaints about. The real truth, as you later admitted, is that you gave the order to open the exit gate in order to relieve the dangerous crush that was building outside the Leppings Lane turnstiles.
While it was commendable that you owned up to your falsehood eventually, I am afraid that the damage to the dead, injured and survivor’s reputations had already been done. Headlines and news bulletins the world over repeated your lie, and many people still walk around under the misapprehension that was given to them by the lie you told that day.
I write this open letter to you more in hope than expectation I must admit, but I wondered if you might welcome this opportunity to finally apologise for all the hurt and anger you have caused? As I said I am just one man, and I would be willing to meet you one on one, anywhere and in private and in secret with just one camera and a microphone if you were willing to do so?
If you do not feel willing or able to meet me, then as a secondary request, could I ask that you write your thoughts and feelings down, and either post them on this blog post, or email them to me at mike_nicholson@hotmail.co.uk instead?
The families of the victims that day have had a 22 year fight to not only get the official record set straight, but also to clear their loved-ones reputations to people who read the headlines in April 1989, and made their mind up on the spot. You caused that, and you can help to put it right, albeit 22 years later.
I wait with hope in my heart.
Regards,
Mike Nicholson
