Nigel Evans

[TheOstrich]

I think those of us who frequented soccer matches prior to that disaster knew in our hearts that it was an accident just waiting to happen - anywhere in the country. Villa Park, for example, had a huge open terrace (Witton End) with nothing behind it but a muddy 60 foot steep slope down. Not funny being in the Witton End in a 60,000 full house. Similarly Birmingham City's huge terracing was dangerous in large crowds as the crush barriers were frankly inadequate. So I don't rue the advent of all-seater stadiums as some soccer die-hards do (there is a campaign to bring them back in the Football League); for safety reasons they are a no-brainer.

Hillsborough was an accident waiting to happen, caused by fan behaviour (even just plain boisterousness can be dangerous in those circumstances), and inadequate stadium management, for which I think you could equally blame the club and the police. The subsequent police cover-up is an entirely separate matter, and despicable.

Finally, I do heartily wish that this incident, along with all the other long-running sagas like Stephen Lawrence and Bloody Sunday and so on, would be finally put to bed. Yet people like Doreen Lawrence are being feted and appointed to the House of Lords, and the vast majority of soccer games this Saturday are kicking off at 3:07, the time of Hillsborough! Criticise me if you want, but frankly I've no time for this. Enough is enough - move on.

[cromwell]

Finally, I do heartily wish that this incident, along with all the other long-running sagas like Stephen Lawrence and Bloody Sunday and so on, would be finally put to bed. Yet people like Doreen Lawrence are being feted and appointed to the House of Lords, and the vast majority of soccer games this Saturday are kicking off at 3:07, the time of Hillsborough! Criticise me if you want, but frankly I've no time for this. Enough is enough - move on.

Blimey - how I agree with this!

[Kaz]

Me too, it really is not healthy to cling on to tragedy in this way

[Aggers]

Blimey - how I agree with this!

So do I.

[KateLMead]

We will never know the deliberations of the jury room, but I wonder if there isn't now the beginnings of an inherent grass-roots backlash against the CPS and the justice system and all these high-profile sexual prosecutions?

Additionally, Evans was accused of using his power to promote his sexual proclivities - another argument could be that the victims were using their sexuality to promote their advancement. Not sayin' they were, just sayin' that it's a possibility that perhaps needed consideration .......

Poor chap is now penniless and is insisting that the burden of payment must fall on the taxpayer. He is obviously entitled to benefits, and to discover the £135,000 was his life's savings must be a surprise considering his position.!!!!
He wants to get married when he finds the right partner.
Poor fellow I feel so sorry. For him and the others in the news in Sexminster.
He has had over a thousand letters of support .
He thought one got "Their money back on acquittal" being in government I would have thought
He was aware of The Law.