Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
It’s not the end
Families to review decision to drop police chief charges Sir Norman: I have been vindicated after allegations
THE families of Hillsborough victims will ask lawyers to look again at a decision not to prosecute expolice chief Sir Norman Bettison.
Sir Norman, 62, was due to stand trial on four charges of misconduct in a public office for allegedly telling lies after the 1989 disaster – including claims he wrongly stated he never tried to shift blame on to Liverpool fans.
But yesterday the Crown Prosecution Service said it was dropping the case because there was “no longer a realistic prospect of conviction”.
The decision was taken after the death of a crucial witness and changes in statements made by two others.
Sir Norman, the former chief constable in Merseyside and West Yorkshire, said he has been “vindicated”.
But Margaret Aspinall, from the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said: “We have grave concerns about the handling of this case by the CPS and can confirm that we will be exercising our right to an independent review under the Right to Review scheme.
“It is our view that the wrong charge was brought in the first place and we will be using the review process to argue this point strongly.”
FIGHT
She added: “We know how our supporters will feel about this decision and we all share all of those feelings.
“There are so many things we would like to say about the justice process... but can’t so as not to prejudice the other trials which are proceeding. We ask everyone to show the same restraint.
“The Hillsborough families have waited almost 30 years for justice – not just in terms of what happened on the day but also what has happened since.
“It is our clear view that there must be accountability for all we deem wrong.
“We have faced many setbacks before and sometimes it is hard to find the strength to keep going. But we haven’t come this far to give in now and we will fight on until justice is done.”
Under the Victims’ Right to Review Scheme, a CPS decision not to prosecute can be re-assessed by an independent lawyer. Outside Preston crown court after the hearing, Lou Brookes, whose brother Andrew, 26, was one of the 96 people killed in the disaster, said: “I will certainly be pursuing my right to a review.”
Steve Kelly, the brother of Michael, 38, who died in the tragedy, said: “I’m devastated. I feel as if I’ve been beaten up.”
Sheila Coleman, of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign, said: “We are angry and disappointed.”
Ian Burke, son of Hillsborough victim Henry, was among those with his head in his hands after the CPS ruling.
The 96 Liverpool FC fans died as a result of a crush at the FA Cup semi-final at the stadium in Sheffield, South Yorks. Sir Norman was a chief inspector of South Yorks police at the time. He attended the game as a spectator, and was not on duty. But later he helped find material for police lawyers to present to the Hillsborough disaster inquiry led by Lord Justice Taylor who published his findings in 1990.
In June last year Sir Norman was charged with misconduct. It was alleged that when he applied to be Merseyside chief constable in 1998 he untruthfully described his role in the South Yorkshire police response as
Sometimes it is hard to find the strength. But we haven’t come this far to give in now MARGARET ASPINALL REACTS TO THE DECISION REVEALED YESTERDAY
“peripheral”. He was also accused of lying to the Merseyside Police Authority by saying he had never tried to shift blame for the disaster “on to the shoulders of Liverpool supporters”.
It was also claimed he lied in 2012, after the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report, when he said he had never offered any interpretation other than the behaviour of fans had not caused the disaster.
He was also accused of misconduct over a statement released the following day in which he said he had never “besmirched” Liverpool supporters.
Sarah Whitehouse QC, prosecuting, told the court yesterday that since the charges were brought the “state of the evidence has changed”.
Paul Greaney QC, defending, said a “false understanding” that Sir Norman was part of an alleged cover-up had been fostered by political figures including Merseyside MP Maria Eagle.
Mr Greaney said: “Contrary to public understanding, there has never been any suggestion in this failed prosecution that Sir Norman... took part in a cover-up. The false understanding he did so has been fostered, not by the prosecution, but by political figures.
“In 1998 and again in 2012, Maria Eagle MP asserted under cover of Parliamentary privilege that Sir Norman had been part of a unit that orchestrated a black propaganda campaign to deflect blame for the... disaster from South Yorkshire police on to the fans...
“That claim, which Maria Eagle has not been prepared to repeat outside Parliament, is untrue.” Speaking outside court, Sir Norman said: “The loss of loved ones who will never come home from Hillsborough is an enduring tragedy. “Such a devastating loss is deserving of all our sympathies and has always included mine. “Nothing over the last six years has diminished my sympathy.
“My involvement in the events around Hillsborough has often been misrepresented, even in Parliament.
“Since then, I have been forced to deny, strenuously, that I was guilty of any wrongdoing in the aftermath of the disaster.
“Today’s outcome vindicates that position.” In a joint statement, Ms Eagle, Merseyside mayor Steve Rotheram, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, Wirral South MP Alison Mcgovern, and Halton MP Derek Twigg said: “We are disappointed to hear this news and we fully support the decision of the families to seek a review.
“As long-standing supporters of the campaign for justice, our thoughts today are with the bereaved families and survivors of the Hillsborough disaster, still reliving that day and its aftermath almost 30 years on.”
The Mirror has also campaigned for justice for the fans who died.
Sir Norman was charged after the Independent Police Complaints Commission carried out the biggest criminal investigation into alleged police misconduct ever carried out in England and Wales.
Five others are still due to face trial for offences related to the disaster.