Phil Hammond, an integral part of the Hillsborough Family Support Group (HFSG), has passed away. Hammond’s family shared the tragic news with the world, devastating supporters throughout the United Kingdom. Hammond, whose teenage son was killed in the Hillsborough stadium disaster, symbolized the ongoing fight for justice over how his son and 96 others lost their lives. Members of the HFSG characterized him as honest, humble, kind, and fair, ensuring that his impact would never be forgotten.
In 1989, the disaster disgraced Liverpool football fans as Nottingham Forest defeated them in an FA Cup semi-final match. Seventy-four people lost their lives on the day of the disaster, with Andrew Devine becoming the 97th person who was unlawfully killed at Hillsborough in 2021. Hammond’s son, Philip, age 14, was amongst the 96 who died as a result of the terrible crush. An inquest into the incident found that the deaths were the result of a series of failures by the police service, ambulance service, and Liverpool Football Club management.
Following the disaster, Hammond became a prominent voice in the fight for justice, campaigning against police deception, misinformation, and attempts to blame the fans for the tragedy. In an interview with The Guardian, Hammond welcomed David cameron’s apology to the families. Hammond’s fight for justice for his son, Philip, and the other families would become a significant part of his life. After suffering a near-fatal brain haemorrhage in 2008, Hammond’s wife, Hilda, abandoned her nursing career to care for him.
Louise Brookes, whose brother Andrew Mark Brookes died in the event, reacted to Hammond’s death by praising his character and remembrance. A Liverpool city council spokesperson mentioned that Hammond’s role in the quest for truth and accountability in the Hillsborough disaster case would never be forgotten. Hammond leaves behind his wife, Hilda, and son, Graeme. The world mourns the loss, but his family will carry forward the mantle in search of justice for their son, Philip
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