Professor Phil Scraton, campaigner and author of Hillsborough: The Truth, speaks to Gareth Roberts about the long fight for truth and justice, from the days when it became clear a cover-up was in process just days after the disaster to the elation of the verdict at the inquests last year.
In between was a long and arduous battle for information, for recognition and for the powers that be to recognise what was right and wrong. Phil has been at the centre of it all, alongside the families and the survivors, from 1989 through to 2017, and here he speaks candidly about the highs and lows of those 28 years.
Direct – Hillsborough 28 Years On: Phil Scraton on Owning The Truth Of April 15, 1989
What an excellent listen, really interesting to hear how he came to play such a big role in the fight for justice. Hats off to Phil Scraton for all his outstanding work.
Just an amazing interview, Phil nails it, Robbo let’s the interview flow brilliantly with no interruptions, asking important questions at the right times.
Dr Scraton is a absolute hero for the work and research he put into uncovering the truth, when those in positions of authority wanted it all swept under the rug and hushed up for so long. He along with many others stood up for the families, stood up for the truth and like a dog with a bone, refused to let go until those responsible where finally named and shamed for the manipulative, conniving, propaganda pushing, lying filth that they are.
Thank you Phil, thank you TAW. Justice will come.
96 R.I.P 96
Excellent piece and as Steve writes above Robbo lets Phil Scraton do the talking. This podcast highlights so well just how deep, how far and how determined those in authority were to shift the blame from themselves and on to the innocent fans – the 96 and the survivors. Well done TAW for putting this together.
Great work Robbo (you are very good at what you do!) and well done TAW once again.
Prof Phil you are a great, great man. Thank you.
#JFT96 YNWA
Brilliant interview, heartbreaking at times but needs to be heard.
Hi guys. I just wanna ask why there isn’t any minutes silence/applause at today’s footie? I find that quite disrespectful to be honest. Great show as usual
RIP the 96. Never forgotten.
Listened twice back to back and now I’m just bloody angry! You think you have a handle on all this then you see it through another lens! We’ll done – truly exceplent hosting sets up a great interview/chat and I know for sure I’ve learned something today! Thank you both
Scraton clearly has our respect, admiration and sincerest thanks for all he has done for the countless individuals affected by Hillsborough. He is absolutely superb in this interview and I, too, was struck by Robbo’s professionalism; he couldn’t have done a better interviewing job than this. No ego from the interviewer here; he simply facilitates the conversation. Excellent.
Wonderful.chilling.painful and very insightful.
Phil really is a truly remarkable man.
Robbo – that was excellent facilitating as I’m sure you wanted to ask so many questions but you let Phil flow. Well done. Has to be up there with my favourite TAW podcasts.
That was one of the best pieces of audio journalism I’ve ever heard.
It constantly amazes me as to the strength, dignity & tenacity that defines the families & people such as Professor Phil.
I find the the story so heartbreaking & the rage & anger about the cover up & treatment to the families is still there for me – gets worse when you know the facts – it staggers me how such a number of so called people can colude to the extent that they did – it’s beyond comprehension.
Really well done to all involved especially Robbo for providing such a professional platform for the piece.
Best wishes to all.
Thank you for all the supportive and generous comments here and on twitter. And many thanks to Robbo for giving me the opportunity to talk on TAW – it was great to meet. I’ll be talking at the Merseyside Writing on the Wall Festival on Tuesday 16 May at 7pm, Blackburne House: Fractured Lives, Dissenting Voices, and Recovering ‘Truth’. The talk will draw on my work on Hillsborough, prisons, childhood, Ireland, to examine the challenges involved in bearing witness to the ‘pain of others’. It will argue that dissenting voices are the foundation of hope, resistance and transformation. YNWA, Phil.