WE ALL knew the truth about Hillsborough had never been told but to be honest I was shocked by the sheer scale of the cover-up.

I never thought the panel’s report would go as deep as it did. It’s incredible how many mistakes were made by the authorities and how they lied to cover their tracks.

I was sitting behind the dugout at Hillsborough that day in 1989 as I sat out the FA Cup semi-final through injury. We always knew the 96 who died on that tragic afternoon were innocent victims failed by people who were meant to protect them. Now the rest of the world knows that as well.

One of my hopes following that momentous day on Wednesday is that it puts an end to the sick chants Liverpool fans have had to endure for the past 23 years.

Some people believed those lies about drunken and ticketless supporters being responsible – the idea that there’s no smoke without fire. Others questioned why Reds dwelt on the past and urged them to move on.

But now football fans across the country have been shown why everyone connected with Liverpool kept fighting for so long.

I think there’s a realisation that what happened to Liverpool could have happened to any club.

The report has educated people and as David Cameron said it’s there in black and white – the fans weren’t to blame. The truth is out there and I really hope rival fans take that on board.

I’ve got to say the panel did an unbelievable job putting that report together. It can’t have been easy for them but they can be proud of what they have done.

Their findings are mind-blowing. The fans’ safety was compromised at every level. From the unsuitability of Hillsborough to stage that game, to the errors made by police and the failure of the ambulance service to assist those who were caught up in the tragedy.

Then you had senior police officers and MPs trying to pin the blame on supporters.

The FA also have a lot to answer for having turned a blind eye to the problems there had been at the ground in the past.

There was no evidence of any government involvement but the fact is successive governments simply didn’t do enough to right the wrongs of the past. It’s hard to believe something like this could happen in a country like Britain.

You’ve got to give so much credit to the families of the 96 who have fought for 23 years for the truth. They kept getting knock-backs but refused to be silenced.

Thursday brought it all up again and I’m sure there was a real mix of emotions.

Everyone now knows they weren’t accidental deaths and that fans lived beyond that 3.15pm cut off. The next step has to be for the Attorney General to quash the original inquests and order new ones.

It’s not only in the families’ interest the wider public’s interest. Then I think criminal prosecutions will follow. No-one can be above the law and lot of people have a lot to answer for. Strong words need to be followed by actions to ensure those responsible are held to account.