Former miners can finally speak the truth about Orgreave, says inquiry chair

Pete Wilcox says point of investigation into infamous 1984 clashes with police is to ‘enable communities to move on’

Former miners will finally get the chance to speak the truth about their experiences after four decades of silence during a public inquiry into infamous clashes with police at Orgreave, the inquiry’s chair has said.

Pete Wilcox, the bishop of Sheffield, said only an inquiry could help South Yorkshire move on from the events of 18 June 1984, when striking miners unexpectedly found themselves in a pitched battle against thousands of police officers brought in from forces across the UK.