Jordan Davies & Tony Brown came together with BBC News to show their support for the victims and relatives affected by four major tragedies. These included Hillsborough, Grenfell, the Manchester Arena terror attack, and the Aberfan disaster. These victims stated that if a charter compelling the police to tell the truth had been introduced earlier, decades of suffering could have been avoided. This charter, known as the Hillsborough Charter, will require organizations to prioritize victims over their own reputations. It marked the first time that victims from these tragedies had come together to speak publicly.
The charter signing event in Merthyr Tydfil will see most of Wales’ public bodies signing up to the charter. Jeff Edwards, the last child rescued alive from the Aberfan disaster at eight years old, highlighted the potential impact of such a charter. He believed that had such a charter been in place, people’s views would have been taken into account, potentially altering the outcomes of these tragedies. The Aberfan disaster of 1966 claimed 116 children and 28 adults, leaving behind lasting grief and unresolved anger.
Margaret Aspinal, who lost her son James in the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, reflected on the importance of the Hillsborough Charter. She expressed her belief that the suffering endured by families could have been prevented if such a charter had existed earlier. Her hope is that the charter will encourage honesty and transparency, preventing cover-ups and injustices. Margaret emphasized the vital role of truth-telling by authorities in avoiding further tragedies.
Edward Daffarn, a resident of the Grenfell Tower, discussed the tragic fire incident of 2017 and the failures that led to its devastation. Edward’s warnings about the building’s safety were ignored, similar to the concerns expressed in relation to previous tragedies. He saw the potential for a charter like the one proposed after Hillsborough to have given him a stronger voice and possibly averted the Grenfell disaster. The victims of the Manchester Arena attack similarly shared their stories and the importance of a charter that prioritizes humanity and truth in public service
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