This highly contentious issue was always going to result in an emotive reaction when the verdict was reached and advised.
To put some context into the debate - at the time of the tragedy, there was a large amount of casual bias towards sections of society, fostered and reflected by the media at the time, which happily has been eradicated with the passing of time.
Part of this casual stereotyping was the notion that Liverpudlians are chancers, drunkards, and hooligans, all of which fitted into the overall media perception of the fans' supposed behaviour surrounding the events on that day.
The police were delighted to foster the notion that the tragedy was caused by drunken rampaging ticketless hooligans - they even took blood samples from corpses including children (!) to bolster their excuses that alcohol played a major part in what occurred that day.
Evidence now proves that alcohol was not to blame, nor did ticketless fans force open a gate - the police opened the gate, and the fatal consequences unfolded as a result.
I am always happy to sympathise with anyone who makes a mistake - and we all do - even though the mistake(s) on this scale had such tragic consequences.
What is unacceptable is the fact that the police authorities lied repeatedly in order to cover up their part in the events, and furnished a scurrilous untrue report of the behaviour of fans which has blighted to lives of bereaved families for decades.
Now the truth is out, and contrary to some posters on here, any legal action will not be a 'witch hunt' - or anything of the kind. It will be (late) justice for the real offenders in this tragedy.
If the police cannot be brought to book for breaking laws that they themselves enforce, then what hope for our legal system, or future faith in the police themselves?
So the notion of 'hounding a retired policeman to his death ...' is so much nonsensical hyperbole - it is justice for the families who lost loved ones from decisions made by an officer who was incompetent, and then a liar, in court, on various occasions.
I cannot say any argument why those involved should not be tried - their law-breaking must be accounted for. Their individual consciences are something they will have to accept themselves.
I hope they are denied a decent night's sleep for the rest of their lives. That will put them on a par with the families of those who died on that day - albeit for different reasons.