For one teacher, it was a life well-lived. Debate about Hillsborough should not be about football or the city of Liverpool; this is a matter of civic safety that has implications for everyone in British society. The FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest ends in tragedy as a crush at the Leppings Lane end of Sheffield Wednesdays Hillsborough stadium leads to the death of 96 Liverpool fans, with more than 750 people injured. And 30 years means many people, especially families, have had to constantly relive their terrible experience.". I apologise unreservedly to the families and I hope they believe it is a very, very sincere apology. Up to 41 of the dead might have survived had they been given oxygen. The Hillsborough match commander apologised to the families. Barry Devonside, whose son Christopher, 18, died in the disaster, said: "I'm shocked and stunned by the verdict of the jury. 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. 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. Yet this was not a doddery septuagenarian being persecuted inappropriately for actions long buried in the past. 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. Solicitor Peter Metcalf, former chief superintendent Donald Denton and former detective chief inspector Alan Foster are all charged with perverting the course of justice. The Week is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Sir, it is now that I have thought very seriously about the families, Duckenfield said, explaining that the video 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. What's he waiting for? 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. After three years reviewing 450,000 documents, including those relating to former prime minister Margaret Thatcher and Merseyside Police, the Hillsborough Independent Panel publishes its report and exposes the police campaign to blame Liverpool fans. 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. 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. Sleep expert shares exact time children should go to bed, 11 things we learnt at an explosive Liverpool Council budget meeting, Police say body found in search for missing baby in Sussex, Eccleston skier races into a podium finish at Italian competition, Last minute donation saves Wirral flat full of unique artwork at auction, CQC publish findings on Ainsdale Court care home in Rainhill, Human error to blame for train crash - Greek PM, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Duckenfield retires on medical grounds, suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Inquests into the 96 football fans who died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster have concluded they were unlawfully killed. 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. Around 2,000 fans enter, many heading down a central tunnel and into already busy terrace pens, leading to the tragic crush. Start your free trial. And despite the words of regret expressed in 2015, this included the resurrection of shameless claims about ticketless and late supporters. 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. Following the broadcast of a television dramatisation of the Hillsborough disaster, the Home Offices Operational Policing Policy Unit writes to Michael Howard, then home secretary, saying it raises the suggestion that some of the victims were still alive at 3.30pm. David Duckenfield is not a criminal, a jury has decided. The death of two witnesses and contradictions in the evidence of others is cited as part of the reason for the decision. Recipe: Ayurvedic Jewish penicillin by Dr Rupy Aujla, Sunaks Brexit deal explained in five points, Messi vs. Ronaldo: all-time goals and statistics. And it is not his fault those who deserved to face the same scrutiny he did will never be held accountable for the deaths of the 96. Judge Sir Peter Openshaw also told jurors the condition could explain Duckenfield's lack of reaction as he sat in the well of the court throughout the trial. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Duckenfields acquittal underlines that no one has been held responsible for Hillsborough. 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. Expert policing witness Douglas Hopkins said this was a potential warning sign. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? It leads to a new criminal inquiry into the disaster and an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. The jury fails to reach a verdict on Duckenfield. The story prompts a boycott of the paper on Merseyside, still upheld by many today. Posted on 26 Feb in avondale redbud problems. Three more defendants are still facing charges relating to Hillsborough: retired police officers Donald Denton, 80, and Alan Foster, 73, and police solicitor Peter Metcalf, 68, will all stand trial later this year. More than 2,000 fans then entered through exit gate C, with many heading for the tunnel ahead of them, which led to the central pens of the terrace where the crush happened. It also prompts calls for criminal action. Duckenfield had agreed earlier that he had not acted as a reasonably competent match commander on the day, due to the mistakes he made. The funnel-shaped nature of the area meant that the congestion was hard to escape for those at the front, says the BBC. "30 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. One called out in court I dont want your apology and several walked out. Those systems failed on 15 April, 1989, and no one will ever take responsibility for that failure. It is hard to comprehend how the relatives have maintained their dignity in the face of numerous disappointments and crass treatment from the authorities. Despite this, the retired officer was able to walk away last week in the face of overwhelming evidence and his own admissions. The jury was shown pictures of fans in the Leppings Lane end of the stadium as the disaster unfolded, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Summing up the case, the judge said: "The deaths of 96 spectators, many of whom were very young, is, of course, a profound human tragedy attended by much anguish and anger which for many has not passed with time. What is wrong is that it has taken 30 years to get to this point. After the verdict a CPS statement said that the decision of the jury does not affect the findings in the inquest which ruled the victims of the tragedy were unlawfully killed. Mr Duckenfield said he felt the diagnosis was a "sign of weakness" and tried to "conceal" his conditions from family and colleagues but the publication of the report by the Hillsborough Independent Panel in 2012 and a TV programme he had seen about the disaster's effect on the families prompted him to finally tell the truth. But was the regret he described at the disaster inquests the regret of having been dishonest, or the regret of having been found out? 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. It also must be proved that it could be foreseen the breach would give rise to an obvious risk of death, that it caused the death and - most challenging of all - that the circumstances of the breach were so reprehensible as to justify the conclusion that it amounted to gross negligence and required criminal sanction. The inquest blames police decisions and the layout of the stadium for the deaths. Shortly before kick-off, in an attempt to ease overcrowding outside the entrance turnstiles, the police match commander, David Duckenfield, ordered exit gate C to be opened, leading to an influx of supporters entering the pens. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. D avid Duckenfield can finally rest easily. 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. More than 2,000 fans entered through exit gate C once it was opened and many headed for the tunnel ahead of them, which led to the central pens where the crush happened. Judge Sir Peter Openshaw rejects a defence application to ban reporting on the Hillsborough trial until the jury delivers its verdict. 91.195.53.16 We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Relatives and friends of the victims were gathered at the Cunard Building on Liverpool's waterfront when the verdict was announced. 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.. The jury found match commander - former Ch Supt David Duckenfield - "responsible for manslaughter by gross negligence" due to a breach of his duty of care. But this influx caused further crushing inside the stadium, with fans at the front attempting to climb onto the pitch to safety. He also admitted to a "terrible lie". Read about our approach to external linking. The retired chief . This was to be a fatal decision as thousands of Liverpool. Mr Duckenfield's defence counsel argued the case against him was "deeply unfair". Former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary Graham Mackrell, 69, stood trial alongside Duckenfield in January and was found guilty of a health and safety offence for failing to ensure there were enough turnstiles to prevent unduly large crowds building up outside the ground. The High Court rejects an application for judicial review of the inquest verdicts brought by six representative families. Here is how events have unfolded in the 30 years since the disaster. The new Labour governments home secretary, Jack Straw, notes the discussions but said public concern will not be allayed by a reassurance from the Home Office that there is no new evidence and proposes an independent review. 30 years means evidence has been corroded and some people and organisations cannot answer for their actions because they are no longer with us. "We, the families, have fought for 30 years valiantly.". Turnips vs. tomatoes: should salad crisis force UK shoppers back to their roots? The acquittal was not a shock. A handwritten note apparently written by Tony Blair, asks why? Your IP: The findings heavily criticise the police operation, stadium layout and design, and local ambulance service. The stories of personal loss and individual pain have too often been overlooked. Prosecutors allege Duckenfield should have taken action to close the tunnel that led to those pens, a tactic his lawyer said he and other experienced officers were unaware of, but which the court heard had been used at Hillsborough before. If things go wrong it is important that investigations explain why and ensure the situation never occurs again. Unlike Duckenfield, the families, survivors and those affected by Hillsborough cannot sleep easy. 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 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. I seek guidance from people with greater experience and expertise than me. Duckenfields ordeal ended at Preston crown court on Thursday. It may sound like a clich to say lessons must be learnt, but todays verdict means this has never been more relevant or important. The new scrutiny is conducted by Lord Justice Stuart-Smith. acquit Mr Duckenfield of gross negligence manslaughter, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off and extra perks with Booking.com Genius membership, Extra 25% off kitchen appliances using this AO discount code, 35 off 1st orders with this Soak & Sleep voucher code & orders 100+, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK February 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this February, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. Ben Myers QC made the claim in his. They knew the law would let them down. What has been heard here in this court will have been surprising to many, she said. The crown's case was that the Chief Superintendent's failings were so extraordinary that they met that test. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. BBC News Inquests into the 96 football fans who died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster have concluded they were unlawfully killed. That cowardly deceit set the tone for everything that followed. Match commander tells inquest that watching a documentary made him realise the effect the disaster had on the bereaved families. That should never have happened, and we will continue to learn the . Assistant Commissioner Rob Beckley, who was in overall command of Operation Resolve - the criminal inquiry into the disaster, acknowledged the jury "had a difficult and challenging task". Following judicial advice, the PCA decides against proceeding against Mr Murray alone. After delivering the verdict the judge, Sir Peter Openshaw thanked the jury before they were dismissed. Evelyn Newman Duckenfield, center, died at age 81 of covid-19 on Jan 25. 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. 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. Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield has been found not guilty of the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool fans in the 1989 disaster. 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. He didn't breach his duty, he did what he was expected to do in difficult circumstances.". 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. Application for a retrial is refused. Hawara: 'What happened was horrific and barbaric'. Live reporting from the Hillsborough Inquests, Families and players react to conclusions. On 28 November, the remaining jurors acquit Mr Duckenfield of gross negligence manslaughter, as the investigating police officer says the delay between the disaster and the trial should not have been allowed to happen. David Duckenfield was police match commander at the Hillsborough disaster He went on trial for gross negligence manslaughter over the deaths of fans Following a retrial, he was cleared today . It has dashed their hopes repeatedly over the years. The passage of 30 years has presented challenges for everyone involved in the legal process, prosecution and defence. They live with the misery every day. But ultimately the buck stops with me., Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. David Duckenfield, a Police Chief Superintendent, who has been accused of the death of 96 people in the tragic incident of the Hillsborough disaster, was found not guilty in charge of manslaughter. The former chief superintendent of South Yorkshire police, David Duckenfield, leaves after giving evidence to the Hillsborough inquest in Warrington. Minimal treatment would have saved many of the victims. lifts the historic stay of further prosecution on Mr Duckenfield, fails to reach a verdict on the charges against Mr Duckenfield. But the Hillsborough families and survivors will find the outcome hard to take and will ask hard questions about the 65m spent on a criminal investigation which has ended with no one convicted for so many lives lost. He was fined 6,500 and ordered to pay 5,000. Mr Duckenfields retrial starts at Preston Crown Court. It was the founding myth of Hillsborough. There has been barely any for those who were mindbogglingly inept at Hillsborough. 2023 BBC. The citys council cancelled a planned outdoor commemoration event and instead will light 96 lanterns on the steps of St Georges Hall. Read about our approach to external linking. 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. Mr Duckenfield, of Ferndown, Dorset, was cleared after a seven-week retrial at Preston Crown Court. 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. Allen told the inquests last week that he had policed hundreds of football matches and attended thousands as a Liverpool fan. 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. Weakest since 2012: UK house price average falls to 257,406. 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