Disaster witnesses 'ignored'

VITAL witnesses were not called to give evidence to the inquest into the Hillsborough football stadium tragedy, the High Court has been told.

The families of six victims challenging the accidental death verdict returned by a coroner's jury in 1991, heard yesterday time limits on the hearing kept important facts hidden. They were told the coroner Dr Stefan Popper, now retired, conducted 'mini-inquests' into the basic circumstances of each death, preventing the question of how the victims died being answered fully.

Ninety-six people died in a crush during the 1989 FA Cup semi final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield.

The hearing continues today.