Former club secretary fined over Hillsborough disaster safety breach
The former secretary of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club has been fined £6,500 and ordered to pay £5,000 costs for failing to ensure the health and safety of fans arriving at the ground on the day of the disaster.
Graham Mackrell, 69, who was safety officer for the club at the time of the 1989 FA Cup semi-final, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court after he was found guilty of failing to discharge a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act in respect of ensuring there were enough turnstiles to prevent unduly large crowds building up outside the ground.
The fine, branded “shameful” by one family member, was based on his weekly income of £1,370, made up of £700 he earned as administrator for the Football League Managers’ Association and £670 from pensions, the court heard.
The court heard the arrangements meant there were seven turnstiles available for the 10,100 Liverpool fans with standing tickets.
Judge Sir Peter Openshaw 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.”
Ninety-six Liverpool fans died following the crush in the central pens of the Leppings Lane terrace at the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on April 15, 1989, after exit gates to the ground were opened to relieve a build-up of crowds outside.
But Judge Op enshaw said Mack re ll’ so ff enc ed id not directly cause the disaster inside the ground.
Outside court an enraged Louise Brookes, whose brother Andrew died at Hillsbor - ough, said: “Our 96 are dead and all it’s worth is £67.70 each. Shameful. Thirty years to get to this.”
The former club secretary is the first person to be convicted for an offence relating to the disaster. A jury failed to reach a verdict on whether match commander David Duckenfield was guilt y of the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 of the victims. A hearing to decide whether Duckenfield will face a retrial is expected to be held next month