Liverpool fans died after ‘major failings’ of police chief

NINETY-SIX Liverpool fans died because of ‘extraordinarily bad’ failings by the police chief in charge at Hillsborough, a court heard yesterday.

David Duckenfield, 74, ‘personally failed’ properly to plan for the arrival of 50,000 supporters for the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in Sheffield in April 1989.

Preston Crown Court heard that, as match commander, he let 24,000 Liverpool fans through turnstiles at the Leppings Lane end, causing a potentially dangerous ‘bottleneck’.

The prosecution said Duckenfield also agreed to a request from officers to open a gate to relieve pressure outside, rather than delay kick-off. Thousands of fans were then funnelled into two already packed pens of standing supporters behind the goal, causing a fatal crush.

The former South Yorkshire Police officer is charged with the manslaughter of 95 fans.

The 96th victim, Tony Bland, 22, died four years later. There can be no prosecution over his death because it came more than a year and a day after his injuries were caused.

Duckenfield, of Bournemouth, denies gross negligence manslaughter. He is on trial alongside former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary Graham Mackrell, 69, of Stocking Pelham, Hertfordshire. He denies stadium safety offences.

The case continues.

‘Dangerous bottleneck’