The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Hillsborough solicitor just ‘doing his job’
Lawyers for a solicitor alleged to have changed police statements after the Hillsborough disaster have claimed the “real perversion of justice” is that he has to stand trial.
Peter Metcalf, 71, who acted as solicitor for South Yorkshire Police following the tragedy at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final, is charged along with former senior officers Donald Denton, 83, and Alan Foster, 74, with perverting the course of justice.
Yesterday, Jonathan Goldberg QC, defending Metcalf, told the jury at the Lowry Theatre in Salford, he had been “honestly doing his job”.
The court has heard that statements, which were reviewed by Metcalf, were amended to remove references to police officers being “like headless chickens” and “light on manpower”.
Mr Goldberg said: “The defence in a nutshell is that Mr Metcalf was honestly doing his job as a solicitor, no more no less, in accordance with the law and professional practice in 1989.”
He said the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 Liverpool fans died, had become synonymous with “cover-up” but he predicted the jury would find no evidence to justify that.
Sarah Whitehouse QC, prosecuting, told the court the alleged amendments to the statements of police officers focused on areas where the force expected to face criticism at an inquiry led by Lord Justice Taylor, which was ordered by the government to look at safety at sports events.
She told the court that in a statement, PC Peter Finnerty said: “I am sure many of them, like me, felt like headless chickens running about.”
A note on the original statement, which appeared to be in Foster’s handwriting, instructed a detective inspector to review the account and an amended version was produced without the comments, the court heard.
The jury was told PC William Crawford said in his statement he thought the force was “very light on manpower” and usually officers would be stationed at the tunnel to direct fans away from the central pens, where the match happened.
Metcalf, a partner at solicitors’ firm Hammond Suddards, suggested a review of those comments, Ms Whitehouse said, adding that the references were deleted.
Denton, of Bents Drive, Sheffield, Foster, of Rossett Avenue, Harrogate, and Metcalf, of Cragg Drive, Ilkley, each deny two counts of doing acts tending and intended to pervert the course of justice.