Hillsborough families disgusted by official’s £6,500 fine
Former football secretary convicted of safety offences at 1989 disaster
A RETIRED football club official found guilty of safety failures over the Hillsborough disaster was fined £6,500 yesterday – less than £70 for each victim.
The fine imposed at Preston Crown Court on Graham Mackrell, 69, was branded “shameful” by the angry families of the dead.
As club secretary of Sheffield Wednesday, Mackrell was in charge of health and safety at the Hillsborough ground on the fateful FA Cup semi-final day in 1989.
On April 3, after a 10-week trial, he was found guilty of failing to discharge his duty under the Health and Safety Act by ensuring there were enough turnstiles.
If the offence took place today, Mackrell could have faced two years in prison, but Sir Peter Openshaw, the judge, said his powers were limited to imposing a fine of £6,500 with £5,000 in costs.
Following the hearing, the families expressed their disgust and said it amounted to less than the cost of a weekly shopping bill for each man, woman and child who died.
Ninety-six Liverpool fans died on April 15 1989, following the crush in the Leppings Lane terrace after exit gates were opened to relieve a build-up of crowds outside.
Outside court, Louise Brookes, whose brother Andrew died at Hillsborough, said: “Our 96 are dead and all it’s worth is £67.70 each. Shameful. My weekly shop costs more than £67.70.
“Our 96 deserve better than this and us families deserve better than this.”
Christine Burke, whose father Henry died in the disaster, added: “He was in charge of the safety certificate and he should have been sacked straight away.
“There should have been no way that he could have pursued his career as he did do after Hillsborough.”
During Mackrell’s trial, the court heard there were just seven turnstiles for the 10,100 Liverpool fans with standing tickets.
The judge said: “He should have realised there was an obvious risk that so many spectators could not pass through seven turnstiles in time for kick-off.”
But Judge Openshaw also said Mackrell’s offence did not directly cause the disaster inside the ground.
He said Mackrell had written to the court saying he had been exposed to public abuse. “I do not doubt the campaign of vilification … has caused him and his family considerable anguish,” the judge added.
In a statement, Mackrell said: “I am grateful the judge recognised my conduct did not cause or contribute to the death of any person or cause any person to be injured on that tragic day.
“Despite that, I do wish to take this opportunity to make clear my sympathy to all those impacted by this appalling tragedy.”
Mackrell stood trial with match commander David Duckenfield, but the jury failed to reach a verdict on charges of gross negligence manslaughter against the former senior police officer.
A hearing to decide whether he will face a retrial is expected to be held next month.