A mother who lost her son in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster has welcomed the decision to order the Government to publish documents revealing discussions held by Margaret Thatcher following the tragedy.
Information Commissioner Christopher Graham ruled that their release was in the public interest.
Hillsborough Family Support Group member Pat Joynes, whose son Nicholas died at the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest, told the BBC: "Twenty-two years ago, when Mrs Thatcher came to Liverpool Cathedral, my husband asked her face to face if there was going to be a cover-up, and she said: 'Mr Joynes, there will be no cover-up.' But there has been a cover-up which has persisted ever since."
Ninety-six Liverpool fans died in the crush at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield on April 15, 1989. An inquiry found that the main reason for overcrowding was the failure of police control.
In a decision notice, the commissioner said the documents would "add to public knowledge and understanding about the reaction of various parties to that event".
Mr Graham's judgment relates to a Freedom of Information request from the BBC more than two years ago, which was refused by the Cabinet Office. This was followed by an internal review which upheld the refusal, prompting the complainant to ask the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) to review the request in September last year.
In his judgment, the commissioner hit out at the Cabinet Office for "unjustified and excessive" delays. He ordered the Government to publish information relating to the Hillsborough disaster provided to Mrs Thatcher, then prime minister, and the minutes of meetings she attended on the matter.
The commissioner said it was right to publish the record of a Cabinet meeting on April 20 1989 in which Mrs Thatcher and her ministers spoke of the disaster.
The Cabinet Office had argued that disclosure would impact negatively on the freedom with which ministers can engage in "free and frank discussions", and on the convention of collective responsibility.
The commissioner's judgment may still be subject to an appeal, which would need to be lodged with the First-tier Tribunal (Information Rights) within 28 days. If there is no appeal, the Cabinet Office has 35 days to comply with the order.
