VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Why Covid lab-leak theory is now being taken seriously, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip, Ukraine war casts shadow over India's G20 ambitions, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. "Thirty years means myths took root about fans being a cause of the disaster, now unequivocally shown by both defence and prosecution evidence to be wrong. A jury found the former South. Mansfield said: But this isnt what happened on this day, this wasnt fans turning up late, having got into a drunken state, was it?, Duckenfield responded: I will have to disagree., Pressed on whether he had received any information in the buildup to the match that fans turned up drunk and late, he replied: I cant recall, sir.. The acquittal of Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield has caused shock and anger after a 30-year campaign for criminal accountability for the disaster. Inquests open in Sheffield, heard by the local coroner, and South Yorkshire Police renews its argument that drunk supporters who arrived late and without tickets contributed to the disaster. Minimal treatment would have saved many of the victims. Hawara: 'What happened was horrific and barbaric'. The acquittal was not a shock. The retired chief superintendent, 75, denied the charge relating to the FA Cup semi-final on April 15 1989. "He understands the public interest in this case, but would ask that his privacy and that of his family is respected, and will not be commenting further. The CPS spokeswoman said: "The disaster at Hillsborough 30 years ago has caused unimaginable suffering to the families of those who sadly lost their lives and to everybody affected by the tragic events of that day. By the following year, more than 700 claims have been lodged and South Yorkshire Police and Sheffield Wednesday FC start making out-of-court settlements without admission of liability. When asked if his "negligence" caused the disaster he told the inquest: "I wouldn't use the word negligence sir. That a publicly funded authority can lawfully withhold information from a public inquiry charged with finding out why 96 people died at a football match, in order to ensure that it never happened again or that a solicitor can advise such a withholding, without sanction of any sort, may be a matter which should be subject to scrutiny.. Jurors hear how a PCs account of the disaster was changed to remove criticisms of police, but notes about drunk fans were kept in. "It is right that an impartial and thorough investigation was carried out, and it is right that a jury was asked to make a judgement of the facts. Crucially, the panel finds that 41 victims did not have signs of the crush injuries originally claimed by pathologists, and so may have been saved. Although there were other causes, the main reason for the disaster was the failure of police control, it concludes. The trial of Mr Duckenfield and Mr Mackrell starts at Preston Crown Court. He said he would regret them to his dying day. David Duckenfield is charge with gross negligence manslaughter of 96 victims, while former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary Graham Mackrell is charged with two health and safety offences. The finding undermines the decision made by the coroner in the first inquests to limit their scope to events before 3.15pm, and not consider the chaotic medical response after that point. A Hillsborough charity music single, a version of He Aint Heavy Hes My Brother, is confirmed as Christmas Number One days later. Civil actions seeking damages starts within days of the disaster, both from relatives of the victims and survivors who have suffered physical injuries and psychological effects. Flags will be flown at half-mast across the city, and the bells of the Town Hall will toll 96 times. In February 2000, both officers appeal to the Divisional Court but fail and the trial is held in Leeds between 6 June and 24 July 2000. And 30 years means many people, especially families, have had to constantly relive their terrible experience.". Live reporting from the Hillsborough Inquests, Families and players react to conclusions. Liverpool FC said it shared "the reactions and frustrations by the families today and those affected by the Hillsborough tragedy". We need to be able to trust the emergency services and the systems that are set up to protect the populace. But the jury accepted the defence case that the 75-year-old was a target of blame who was unfairly singled out for prosecution. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. david duckenfield cycling. One of the many tragedies of the Hillsborough disaster is the first explanation for what claimed the lives of those men, women and children was a suggestion it was Liverpool supporters who were responsible. Margaret Aspinall reacts to Mr Duckenfield's trial verdict, Margaret Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son James was among those who died, said: "The question I'd like to ask all of you and people within the system is who put 96 people in their graves, who is accountable?". It was David Duckenfield, Preston Crown Court heard, who told FA chiefs fans had gained entry through a "forced" stadium gate before the crush on the terraces beyond. Evidence was put to Duckenfield, who had very limited experience of football policing before he was promoted to command the semi-final only 19 days earlier, from Colin Allen, a Merseyside policeman who went to the match as a Liverpool supporter and survived the crush. 91.195.53.16 "I would like to know who is responsible for my father's death because someone is.". David Conn Tue 1 Apr 2014 16.32 EDT The South Yorkshire police officer in charge of the 1989 FA Cup semi-final at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough football ground, at which 96 Liverpool. Despite this, the retired officer was able to walk away last week in the face of overwhelming evidence and his own admissions. Jury fails to reach a verdict on the charges against Mr Duckenfield, but convicts Mr Mackrell of a health and safety offence. They applied to have the case against them dismissed after a month of evidence in a trial that had been awaited for decades by the victims families. Members of the public make 17 complaints that are considered for disciplinary action, which is recommended for David Duckenfield and Bernard Murray, who was ground commander on the day. The most exhaustive and longest inquest in British history was dismissed as not being pertinent. Match commander Ch Supt David Duckenfield had ordered for an exit gate at the stadium to be opened, by the Leppings Lane turnstiles. The jury found match commander - former Ch Supt David. He said this as Dolores Steele, Barry Devonside and Trevor Hicks - all of whom lost children, all of whom gave evidence in these trials - were desperately hoping their teenagers would survive. The turnstiles became difficult to operate and people were starting to be crushed. At that point, Duckenfield gave the command to open another gate to the stadium and about 2,000 fans then made their way into the ground. The High Court quashes the original inquest verdicts of accidental death and orders new inquests. Application for a retrial is refused. I am now very much older, very much wiser and very much more understanding of the events of the day and have decided to tell the whole truth, Duckenfield said. South Yorkshire Police match commander, David Duckenfield, is found not guilty of gross negligence manslaughter for the deaths of 95 Liverpool fans, in a retrial, by a majority of 9-1. After the longest inquest in British history, lasting 90 days, a verdict of accidental death is returned by a majority verdict of 9-2. What is wrong is that it has taken 30 years to get to this point. The death of two witnesses and contradictions in the evidence of others is cited as part of the reason for the decision. The only effective way to ensure this sort of scenario is not repeated is accountability. ", Clive Coleman, BBC legal affairs correspondent. The former police chief was barely seen or heard of in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. Duckenfield said he had watched a video about the disaster, including footage of a mother having to cuddle her dead child on the dirty floor of the Hillsborough gymnasium, which the police used as a mortuary that day. Christine Burke, whose father Henry Burke was killed in the disaster, stood in the public gallery and addressed the judge after the verdict was read out. High Court judge Lord Goldring chairs the new inquests in Warrington, which last more than two years and becomes the longest jury case in British legal history. The former South Yorkshire Police chief superintendent, 75, was in charge of the FA Cup semi-final in which 96 fans were fatally injured. asked if this was a "ploy" and a step to "sever the link between the opening of the gate and what . David Duckenfield is not a criminal, a jury has decided. Unlike Duckenfield, the families, survivors and those affected by Hillsborough cannot sleep easy. Video, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, Harry and Meghan told to 'vacate' Frogmore Cottage, Dozens of girls treated after new Iran poisonings, Rare Jurassic-era bug found at Arkansas Walmart, Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, China and Belarus call for peace in Ukraine, Covid origin likely China lab incident - FBI chief, Man survives 31 days in jungle by eating worms, Havana Syndrome unlikely to have hostile cause - US. That cowardly deceit set the tone for everything that followed. And a jury of seven women and three men agreed with him when they cleared the 75-year-old of gross negligence manslaughter. Ninety-six men, women and children died following the crush on the terrace but, under the law at the time, there can be no prosecution for the death of the 96th victim Tony Bland as he died more than a year and a day after the disaster. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Paul Robinson, whose brother Steven was killed in the stadium crush, said: "As a family we would like to thank all those who have supported us over the years in our quest for justice and accountability. Your IP: After Duckenfield mentioned the contribution in the police control room of Bernard Murray, who was a superintendent but has since died, Menon asked him if he was seeking to blame other people. Many of the bereaved family members, including mothers whose children were killed in the disaster, were crying as Duckenfield spoke. Addressing the families in the court he said: It has now dawned on me what it means to you, and I am dreadfully sorry.. David Duckenfield can finally rest easily. There were shouts in the room as the verdict was announced. Former superintendent Roger Marshall agreed match. VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales, The Indian-American CEO who wants to be US president, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip, Ukraine war casts shadow over India's G20 ambitions, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. ", "It is important to remember that criminal proceedings have a very different purpose to an inquest.". Tom Davidson Assistant news editor. He agreed with Michael Mansfield QC, representing 75 families whose relatives were killed in the lethal crush, that he was practising and persisted in a far-reaching deceit on the day, by lying to Football Association and football club officials about his actions. The story prompts a boycott of the paper on Merseyside, still upheld by many today. And 30 years means many people, especially families, have had to constantly relive their terrible experience. Due to the law at the time, there can be no prosecution over the death of the 96th victim, Tony Bland. The prosecution alleged Mr Duckenfield had a "personal responsibility" for what happened at the match. The former chief superintendent of South Yorkshire police, David Duckenfield, leaves after giving evidence to the Hillsborough inquest in Warrington. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Those systems failed on 15 April, 1989, and no one will ever take responsibility for that failure. Yet this was not a doddery septuagenarian being persecuted inappropriately for actions long buried in the past. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15357db81277bc The match commander on the day, David Duckenfield, was cleared of gross. That sets the bar very high for the prosecution. Thirty years later he remained a man who sought, via his lawyers, to do the same thing. David Duckenfield found not guilty over Hillsborough disaster Hillsborough: Former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary fined 6,500 Sheffield Wednesday FC is also criticised for an inadequate. The new Labour government orders a review of the evidence by Lord Justice Stuart-Smith. It was David Duckenfield, Preston Crown Court heard, who told FA chiefs fans had gained entry through a forced stadium gate before the crush on the terraces beyond. Now the Crown Prosecution Service could consider a prosecution against the former chief superintendent from South Yorkshire police after a jury decided his actions amounted to "manslaughter by gross negligence" due to a breach of his duty of care to fans. The new Hillsborough inquests start in Warrington, and go on to become the longest case ever heard by a British jury. I seek guidance from people with greater experience and expertise than me. As fans were dying he suggested they were responsible for the crush that was a consequence of his decision. D avid Duckenfield can finally rest easily. Medical assistance at Hillsborough was woefully inadequate. There has been barely any for those who were mindbogglingly inept at Hillsborough. Following a public announcement by Labour minister Andy Burnham, concerning the possible early release of Hillsborough-related documents, the HFSG meets with the home secretary and the Hillsborough Independent Panel is set up. The jury at Mr Duckenfield's original trial earlier this year failed to agree a verdict. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Duckenfield added that he had no idea what motivated him to blame other people for his mistakes. At the same hearing he admitted a cocktail of errors, ultimately telling his own barrister he accepted his professional failings led to the tragic crush. He said footage of a mother having to cuddle her dead child on the dirty floor of the Hillsborough gymnasium was the most moving thing he had ever seen, and that it had shown him "what it means to a mother to lose a loved one". Even while the dead and dying were lying on the pitch, barely attended to by the emergency services, Duckenfield was throwing the blame and trying to avoid the responsibility for a decision that caused the carnage. The Crown Prosecution Service decides that following consideration of all the evidence and documentation, there is no evidence to justify any criminal proceedings against South Yorkshire Police officers, Sheffield Wednesday FC, Sheffield City Council or Eastwoods the structural engineering firm that designed the pens. David Duckenfield, who as an inexperienced chief superintendent in the South Yorkshire police was in charge of the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, admitted he had not told the. 2.48pm: One of those gates, Gate C, is opened. But then two years ago I had to force myself to look at matters and, as a result, I could only do so with the assistance of doctors. For all that time, the families of those who died, and the survivors of the crush, have campaigned for justice and accountability. Mr Duckenfield did not dispute that he ordered the opening of a gate at Hillsborough to let fans in, or that he failed to close the tunnel to the terraces which were already full. Video, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, Reaction as David Duckenfield is cleared of manslaughter, argued the case against him was "deeply unfair", Harry and Meghan told to 'vacate' Frogmore Cottage, Rare Jurassic-era bug found at Arkansas Walmart, Dozens of girls treated after new Iran poisonings, China and Belarus call for peace in Ukraine, Prince Andrew offered Frogmore Cottage - reports, Beer and wine sales in Canada fall to all-time low, Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, Havana Syndrome unlikely to have hostile cause - US. Mr Duckenfield, now 71, had claimed that after a large crowd built up outside the turnstiles at the Leppings Lane end of the stadium, Liverpool fans had broken in, causing a rush of people to flood into the fenced-in terraces. But his acquittal does not undo his shameful lie. The families watching in a conference room in Liverpool were aghast. The findings heavily criticise the police operation, stadium layout and design, and local ambulance service. It was even more dispiriting to hear the defence barrister, Benjamin Myers QC, recycle all the rancid myths that grew out of Duckenfields dissembling: that fans turned up late, alcohol was a factor and supporters ignored police instructions. The jury fails to reach a verdict on Duckenfield. They were even more appalled when Openshaw called the defendant a poor chap after Duckenfield was forced to go to hospital with a suspected chest infection. By this point he had not even told his boss, the on-call Assistant Chief Constable Walter Jackson, of his order for gates to be opened. David Duckenfield, who as an inexperienced chief superintendent in the South Yorkshire police was in charge of the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, admitted he had not told the whole truth about mistakes he made on the day, through a succession of legal inquiries since 1989. Judith Moritz, BBC North of England correspondent. After reviewing 450,000 documents, the Hillsborough Independent Panel publishes a report highlighting police failings and the alleged campaign to blame Liverpool supporters for the disaster. He was fined 6,500 and ordered to pay 5,000. A police chief told a "wicked lie" by suggesting Liverpool fans forced open a gate ahead of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, the inquests heard. Duckenfields ordeal ended at Preston crown court on Thursday. Solicitor Peter Metcalf, former chief superintendent Donald Denton and former detective chief inspector Alan Foster are all charged with perverting the course of justice. When Mr Duckenfield, the police officer in charge of keeping people safe at Hillsborough in 1989, attempted to apologise for the deaths of 96 people, the family members listening to his testimony gasped. Men, women and children were crushed on the Leppings Lane terrace. What is wrong is that it has taken 30 years to get to this point. The collapse of the latest Hillsborough trial comes after 30 years of legal battles over responsibility for the disaster, which claimed 96 lives on 15 April 1989. The High Court rejects an application for judicial review of the inquest verdicts brought by six representative families. For the sake of the 96 innocent people who died 30 years ago, something like this should never happen again.. A jury failed to reach a verdict in the case of David Duckenfield, the former South Yorkshire police chief superintendent and match commander on the day of the Hillsborough disaster. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. In July 2000, Murray is acquitted after a six-week trial. Mr Duckenfield, of Ferndown, Dorset, was cleared after a seven-week retrial at Preston Crown Court. It was closed after 26 seconds and around 150 supporters are believed to have entered. But he now admits the crush occurred after he ordered an exit gate to be opened allowing 2,000 Liverpool fans to enter the stadium in just five minutes. Because any time you or your loved ones attend a public event it should be with the knowledge that the people responsible for maintaining order and safety will be competent. Jimmy Hennessey, a 29-year-old, had negligible medical attention and was placed in a body bag while still alive. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Latest trial follows two sets of inquests, private prosecutions and civil proceedings over the disaster, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. When all Hillsborough legal proceedings are concluded we should, as a society, take time to consider these matters and learn lessons. 30 years means evidence has been corroded and some people and organisations cannot answer for their actions because they are no longer with us. Lord Justice Peter Taylors interim report into the tragedy puts the blame on South Yorkshire Police. The inquest jury finds that Hillsboroughs 96 victims were unlawfully killed and that Liverpool fans were not responsible for the disaster. Gate C, leading to the Leppings Lane terraces, is opened. The then Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) concludes that there is no new evidence as alleged by the HFSG and their legal representatives, and therefore no grounds for reopening the police investigation into the Hillsborough disaster. Christine, whose father Henry Burke was killed in the disaster, addressed the judge after the verdict was read out. David Duckenfield was in charge when a crush developed in terraced pens on 15 April 1989 . Answering questions from Mansfield, Duckenfield said, however, that he did believe Liverpool fans turned up late and drunk to the match, and that Merseyside police failed to tell the South Yorkshire force that Liverpool fans were in the habit of doing that. David Duckenfield is one of six people to be charged with manslaughter over the deaths resulting from the disaster which claimed the lives of 96 fans. It is rejected by Lord Justice McCowan in the divisional court. It is true the same stadium exit gate he ordered to be opened at 2.52pm opened minutes earlier without his instruction. Sergeant Michael Goddard, who was in the police control box, told the trial the request was not unusual, 2.30pm: Duckenfield raises the size of the crowd outside the Leppings Lane turnstiles and asks ground commander, Supt Bernard Murray, whether those fans will be in the ground for the 3pm kick-off. Around 2,000 fans enter, many heading down a central tunnel and into already busy terrace pens, leading to the tragic crush. But an inquest is not a criminal court, and so it was for another jury to decide whether Mr Duckenfield's mistakes amounted to gross negligence manslaughter. 2.17pm: Superintendent Roger Marshall requests for Leppings Lane to be closed to traffic. The Crown Prosecution Service announces that six people are to be charged with offences in relation to the disaster Mr Duckenfield is charged with manslaughter and former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary Graham Mackrell for health and safety offences. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. The jury did, however, reach a majority verdict to convict Graham Mackrell, Sheffield Wednesdays then-secretary and safety officer, of failing to take reasonable care of Liverpool supporters safety, by allocating only seven turnstiles for the 10,100 people. The 96 Liverpool supporters unlawfully killed at Hillsborough. The passage of 30 years has presented challenges for everyone involved in the legal process, prosecution and defence. South Yorkshire coroner Dr Stefan Popper begins the inquest process into the deaths, but only considers events up until 3.15pm on the day of the disaster, nine minutes after the match was stopped, so the role of the emergency services after the disaster does not come under scrutiny. About 45 family members watched the verdict from the Cunard building in Liverpool, where the trial was screened. Duckenfield responded: Sir, I was not outside the turnstiles, but I am not in a position to dispute his view.. Home secretary Theresa May orders a new criminal investigation into the disaster, Operation Resolve. The CPS announces that a police officer and a farrier will not be prosecuted over allegations that they fabricated a story about a police horse being burnt with cigarettes at Hillsborough. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Sheffield Wednesday's former club secretary Graham Mackrell was found guilty of a health and safety offence in May 2019. The Sun newspaper publishes its infamous front page with the headline The Truth, blaming drunk Liverpool fans for the disaster and even accusing some of stealing from the dead and injured. "Over this period, I have had to come to terms with reality, and that is why, over the period, you might say I dug my head in the sand, didn't admit things to myself, but I am now very much older, very much wiser, and very much more understanding of the events of the day and have decided to tell the whole truth. ", To the families he added: "It has now dawned on me what it means to you, and I am dreadfully sorry. "We have immense admiration for the Hillsborough families, survivors and campaigners for what they have achieved and our thoughts remain with them and those 96 Liverpool supporters who went to watch their team and never came home.". The prosecution in the case alleged Duckenfield, 75, had a 'personal responsibility' for what happened at the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, when 96 people were fatally injured . Benjamin Myers QC told the jury his client had become "the focus of blame". Duckenfield did not give evidence in the trial as the court heard he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Attempting to explain his words in Warrington, he said: I was probably deeply ashamed, embarrassed, greatly distressed and I probably didnt want to admit to myself or anyone else, what the situation is.". 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