INSULT TO INJURY
Fury over H’boro ‘riot’ slur as cops & lawyer walk free
A LAWYER for police caused fury yesterday by saying fans caused a “riot” at Hillsborough.
Jonathan Goldberg QC made the claim in a radio interview after a case against two ex-officers and a police solicitor accused of perverting justice collapsed.
Mr Goldberg, acting on behalf of South Yorks force solicitor Peter Metcalf, said: “My client was accused of covering up criticism of the police.
“What he in fact did was cut out criticism of the Liverpool fans, whose behaviour was perfectly appalling on the day, causing a riot that led to the gate having to be opened, that unfortunately let the people in and crushed to death the innocents who were at the front of the pens.”
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who has campaigned with the Hillsborough families, said: “There is no evidence of any riot outside that ground and the fact somebody who is a Queen’s Counsel should make those statements, they are inaccurate statements.”
Also acquitted at the Nightingale Court in Salford, Lancs, were retired Ch Supt Donald Denton and Det Ch Insp Alan Foster. It was alleged the men changed statements about the 1989 tragedy to reduce blame on South Yorkshire Police.
But as they were prepared for a public inquiry and not a court of law, it was not a “course of public justice” which could be perverted, said Mr Justice William Davis.
Margaret Aspinall, whose son James, 18, died in the disaster, said: “They tried to bring our fans into it again at this trial when we have already cleared their names, and to me that is so sad.”
Liverpool FC said victims had been “let down yet again”.