By former Liverpool ECHO Executive Editor David Bartlett
In September 2012 I was assigned to report on the Hillsborough Independent Panel - it was a huge undertaking because of the sheer volume of evidence.
For days and weeks after the report was made public I read hundreds of pieces of evidence published by the panel - which included amended police statements.
I wrote dozens of reports for the ECHO, each one with shocking and appalling details of what happened on the day of the disaster or in the aftermath.
Some people rightly lost their jobs because of details that were contained in that evidence, or because of their responses to the panel.
Having read the evidence, I always believed that someone would be held responsible in a court of law for the terrible events at Hillsborough, and the subsequent cover up.
Each piece of evidence built a picture of contempt for the fans and an ingrained culture that refused to accept responsibility for the disaster.
It was right that the first step was for the original inquests to be quashed - and this happened relatively quickly after the panel reported its findings.
When the new inquests were held and the correct verdict of unlawful killing was delivered, it was an important step on the path towards justice for the families and survivors.
A jury inquest found that 96 men, women and children were unlawfully killed at Hillsborough - that can never be taken away from families and survivors.
In the five years since no one has been found responsible for the deaths of 96 people.
One person was successfully prosecuted in relation to the disaster - Sheffield Wednesday's former ground safety officer Graham Mackrell.
He was found guilty of a health and safety breach by failing to take reasonable care of Liverpool supporters by not allocating enough turnstiles. He was fined £6,500.
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That is it. No one else has been successfully prosecuted. One person has been fined £6,500.
It is important to point out that Mr Mackrell was not found responsible for any deaths at Hillsborough, the judge in the case said his offence did not directly cause the disaster.
It is beyond doubt that the stadium was unsafe, that the emergency response was woefully inadequate, and that a huge cover up of those failings that sought to pin the blame on the fans was perpetrated.
And now the legal system’s appalling inability to deliver justice can be added to that awful list of shameful failings. This is another immeasurable stain on the justice system in this country.
Now and always our thoughts should be with the families and survivors - they've been failed yet again.
