Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
HILLSBOROUGH TOP COP FINALLY IN DOCK
Duckenfield accused over deaths of 95 victims
THE deaths of 96 Liverpool fans in the Hillsborough tragedy were a result of the “extraordinarily” bad failings of the man in charge of policing the match, a court heard.
Ex-chief Superintendent David Duckenfield, 74, went on trial yesterday charged with the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 of the victims.
He has not been charged over the death of Tony Bland, 22, as he died over a year and a day after the 1989 FA Cup semi at Sheffield Wednesday’s stadium. The law at the time meant no one could be prosecuted for his death.
A hushed courtroom listened as the names of the other 95 victims were read.
All of those who died as a result of a crush on the Leppings Lane terraces were Liverpool fans who had travelled to South Yorkshire to watch their team’s April 15 clash with Nottingham Forest.
Richard Matthews QC, prosecuting, said the youngest victim, Jon-paul Gilhooley, was just 10. The eldest, Gerard Baron, was 67.
DISASTER
All but two of those who perished died on the day. Lee
Nicol, 14, died as a result of his injuries two days later and Tony Bland, who suffered brain damage, died in March 1993, almost four years after the disaster.
Mr Matthews said there may well have been failures by others involved in the planning, organisation and management of the fateful match. But he said those of Duckenfield, who was the match commander and had ultimate responsibilty for the police operation, “played a significant role in causing the deaths”.
Mr Matthews said: “Each died as a result of the extraordinarily bad failures by David Duckenfield in the care he took to discharge his personal responsibility on that fateful day.” He said although he was not the only person at fault, it did not lessen his “gross failure” to fulfil his responsibilty to the fans who died.
Mr Matthews continued: “It is the prosecution’s case that David Duckenfield’s failures to discharge this personal responsibility were extraordinarily bad and contributed substantially to the deaths of each of those 96 people who so tragically and unnecessarily lost their lives.”
The jury were shown a video with photos and computer-generated images of the stadium at the time, including the police control box, the Leppings Lane terraces, turnstiles, Gate C and a tunnel leading to pens 3 and 4.
The court heard around 10,100 Liverpool fans had tickets for the Leppings Lane terraces.
A bottleneck and crush had developed outside the turnstiles and Duckenfield was asked to open an exit gate, Gate C, to try to ease the pressure.
When fans poured through the gate, they were confronted by a sign marked “Standing” above the entrance to a tunnel that led into two areas, pens 3 and 4 – already packed with supporters.
But it was claimed Duckenfield did not monitor the capacity of the pens, despite them being below his police control box. And he allegedly did nothing
to ensure fans were directed towards areas were there was more space. Mr Matthews said: “His failings substantially led to the pressure of crushing in pens 3 and 4 that caused the fatal injuries to all those whose lives were lost.
“David Duckenfield’s failures made a more than minimal contribution – whatever else contributed to the tragedy, [his] failures played a significant role in causing the deaths.”
Mr Matthews said the jury would hear from a number of witnesses during the trial at Preston crown court, Lancs, which is expected to take up to four months.
He said: “Some may have differing views as to whose responsibility a particular task or role was, some may even proffer explanations for the failures that occurred. Some will have a different recollection from others or be mistaken about details.” But he added: “None, we anticipate, will suggest anything other than that David Duckenfield had both an ultimate and a personal responsibility for the policing operation in respect of the safety of those attending the match and, in particular, a personal responsibility to take reasonable care in respect of the risk of death from crushing that was present throughout.”
CRUSHING
Mr Matthews said the crown had to prove Duckenfield’s gross negligence had caused the deaths.
He added: “That does not mean either that no one else or no other factor or circumstance, including those outside his control, played a part in causing the crushing to occur, only that David Duckenfield’s failures made a more than minimal contribution.” Also standing trial is former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary Graham Mackrell, 69, who is accused of contravening the stadium’s safety certificate and a health and safety offence.
Mr Matthews said Mackrell “effectively shrugged off all responsibility” for important aspects of his role as safety officer.
He said Sheffield County Council granted the stadium a safety certificate in 1979, which set out various conditions – including some concerned with trying to ensure the safe operation of the ground for large crowds. One of the conditions, Mr Matthews said, was for the club to agree with police – prior to the tie on April 15 – on the methods of entry into the stadium. He said that meant the arrangements of, and number of, turnstiles to be used for admission to the West Stand terraces and the north-west terraces at the Leppings Lane end.
Mr Matthews said: “It is the prosecution case that Mr Mackrell committed a criminal offence by agreeing to, or at the very least turning a ‘blind eye’ to, or by causing through his neglect of his duty, this breach by the club of this condition.”
The prosecutor also reiterated warnings the judge, Sir Peter Openshaw, gave the jury not to attempt their own research about the disaster.
He said: “What anyone else has in the past written, spoken or published about the disaster or any of the evidence heard by anyone else cannot assist you and mustn’t influence you.
“The same goes to what anyone may write, speak of or publish outside of this particular court during this trial.”
Duckenfield, from Ferndown, Dorset, denies the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 fans.
Mackrell, from Buntingford, Herts, denies contravening a condition of the stadium’s safety certificate and failing to discharge a duty under the Health and Safety Act. The trial continues.
His failings substantially led to the pressure of crushing in pens 3 & 4 RICHARD MATTHEWS QC ON DUCKENFIELD’S ROLE