Liverpool's Kenny Dalglish says Hillsborough families will get justice

Liverpool manager hopes new evidence will reveal truth
Players and club set to mark 22nd anniversary of disaster
kenny dalglish
Kenny Dalglish, centre, was the manager of Liverpool at the time of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. Photograph: Ross Kinnaird/EMPICS Sport/PA Photos

Kenny Dalglish believes that the families of the 96 Liverpool supporters who died at Hillsborough are close to obtaining the answers and justice for which they have campaigned since 1989.

is the 22nd anniversary of the disaster, at an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, for which no one in authority has been held accountable, despite Lord Justice Taylor ruling that South Yorkshire police, Sheffield city council and Sheffield Wednesday football club were culpable.

An independent panel is examining documents relating to Hillsborough and this week James Jones, the bishop of Liverpool who is chairing the panel, told the Guardian it intended to reveal "the full truth" having obtained previously unreleased information.

Dalglish, who was Liverpool's manager in 1989 and who is their manager now, said: "I think it's getting closer to some positive news for the families, but it has taken a long time to get to this point as well. Two years ago Andy Burnham [then secretary of state for culture, media and sport] came up to the memorial service and promised that he would do the best he could to get access to some papers that were not due to be released for another three or four years and to the man's great credit he has done that. They have got access now to some papers that they've never had before and have now got to file through them and that's why I'm saying it's getting a bit more positive for the families."

The Hillsborough disaster and its aftermath were a contributory factor to Dalglish stepping down as Liverpool manager in 1991 and on Friday he and the entire Liverpool squad will attend the annual memorial service at Anfield.

"I don't think what happened there will ever be removed from anybody and neither should it," said Dalglish. "I don't think anybody should ever forget it. I suppose the people who where there are the ones who have the strongest opinion on it. There are people now passing an opinion on things but I'm sure had they been there they would have a different opinion.

"For ourselves also, it has been that long that there is a generation of our supporters now who know about it but obviously weren't there. I'm sure it is to the forefront of their minds as well. Everybody knows what it means to the football club and everybody knows how difficult it is for the people who lost someone there. The sooner they get the justice for themselves, the happier they will be and we all will be for them."