‘The beginning of the end’
Hillsborough prosecutors charge six senior figures over 1989 tragedy Match day police chief to face court over manslaughter of 95 people Victims’ families hail decision as final step towards justice
THE families of the Hillsborough victims last night hailed the “beginning of the end” in their 28-year struggle for justice following the decision to prosecute the match day police commander over 95 deaths.
Five other people were also charged with offences surrounding the deaths of Liverpool fans at Hillsborough stadium on April 15, 1989.
The victims’ relatives broke into applause at being told that the former South Yorkshire Police chief superintendent David Duckenfield and retired chief constable Sir Norman Bettison would be facing criminal charges. The prosecution case against Mr Duckenfield represents one of the largest number of homicide victims ever brought before the courts in a single case.
Two other senior former officers and South Yorkshire Police’s lawyer were charged with perverting the course of justice, while Sheffield Wednesday’s then club secretary was charged with health and safety offences.
The decision follows a dogged campaign by the Hillsborough families to bring authorities to account for the events leading up to the tragedy – and the alleged cover-up after it. Margaret Aspinall, chairman of Hillsborough Family Support Group said relatives had suffered “hell on Earth” in pursuit of the truth. “To me now this is the beginning of the end, definitely the beginning of the end,” said Mrs Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son, James, died in the tragedy. “No one should have to go through what the families have gone through for 28 years to try and get to the truth and to get accountability.”
Mr Duckenfield, 72, in command on the day of the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, faces charges of manslaughter by gross negligence of 95 “men, women and children”. The Crown Prosecution Service was unable to charge him with the manslaughter of the 96th victim, Anthony Bland, on a technicality because he died almost four years later.
Sir Norman Bettison, 61, who retired as chief constable of West Yorkshire Police, was charged yesterday with four offences of misconduct in public office for allegedly lying over his involvement in the aftermath and about the “culpability of fans”.
Former chief superintendent Donald Denton and ex-detective chief inspector Alan Foster were charged with intent to pervert the course of justice. So too was Peter Metcalf, who was the solicitor acting for South Yorkshire Police at the previous Taylor inquiry and the first inquests.
Trevor Hicks, who lost daughters Sarah and Vicki, said: “There will be six people facing criminal charges who might not have done if we hadn’t have been resilient and all stuck together and fought this long fight.” Ian Lewis, solicitor for Mr Duckenfield and Mr Denton, said it would be “inappropriate” to comment.
In a statement, Sir Norman vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
He said: “I am disappointed to be charged with misconduct in a public office. The charge is not in relation to my actions around the time of the disaster but in relation to comments I made years afterwards. I will vigorously defend my innocence as I have been doing for nearly five years.”
A date for Mr Duckenfield’s court appearance is yet to be fixed. The others will appear at Warrington magistrates’ court on Aug 9.
FOR 28 years it has been the names and faces of the 96 victims of the Hillsborough tragedy that have dominated coverage of the event.
But now after a public inquiry, a failed private prosecution, two sets of inquests and a marathon campaign for justice, the identities of six people allegedly responsible for the disaster and its aftermath can finally be revealed.
David Duckenfield
Promoted to Chief Superintendent just three weeks before the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, David Duckenfield was put in overall charge of policing the game, despite having virtually no experience of dealing with such events.
On the afternoon of April 15, 1989, he found himself in the police control box at Hillsborough Stadium.
The mood in the warm spring sunshine was relaxed, with many supporters delaying their arrival. As kick-off approached, Liverpool fans began gathering in large numbers at the turnstiles outside the Leppings Lane end.
Officers outside the ground soon became concerned for the safety of the supporters who were being pushed against the gates and radioed up to the control box three times asking for the gates near the turnstiles to be opened.
Initially frozen by indecision, Mr Duckenfield opted not to delay the kick-off, but eventually ordered that Gate C be opened, allowing 2,000 people to pour into the ground.
When the players took to the pitch at 2.54pm there was a surge through the tunnel into the Leppings Lane end. Supporters were crushed against metal barriers and fences and within minutes scores were dead or dying.
Mr Duckenfield’s decision to open Gate C will form the main part of the prosecution’s case against him on charges that his actions amounted to manslaughter by gross negligence.
Mr Duckenfield initially denied having opened the gates, claiming that drunken fans had forced their way into the ground.
The claim later became part of a widespread narrative, suggesting that it was the behaviour of fans, rather than failures by the authorities, that were to blame for the tragedy. Mr Duckenfield eventually conceded he had been “overcome by the enormity of the situation”. At last year’s inquests into the deaths of the supporters, Mr Duckenfield apologised unreservedly to the families for his actions.
Having joined South Yorkshire Police as a cadet aged 16, he was sworn in as a warranted police constable on Sept 2, 1963. After receiving three commendations in four years he was promoted to sergeant at the age of 25.
Moving steadily up the ranks, he was eventually appointed Chief Superintendent on March 27 1989, three weeks before the disaster.
Mr Duckenfield was suspended from duty on Aug 4 1989. He retired on medical grounds two years later, settling in rural Dorset, with an index-linked pension worth a reported £23,000 a year.
In 2000 the families of some of the victims brought a private prosecution against him and his deputy on the day, Superintendent Bernard Murray, but the jury was unable to reach verdicts.
At last year’s inquests he admitted having battled with severe bouts of depression as he attempted to come to terms with what had happened. He also admitted turning to drink.
Sir Norman Bettison
A former chief constable of both Merseyside and West Yorkshire Police, Sir Norman was an inspector with the South Yorkshire force at the time of Hillsborough.
It was alleged that in the aftermath of the disaster he had been part of a “black ops” unit which helped concoct a version of events that blamed drunken Liverpool fans for the tragedy.
He has always denied the allegations, insisting he has nothing to hide, and last year wrote a book entitled Hillsborough Untold: Aftermath of a Disaster. Sir Norman expressed disappointment over the decision to charge him, adding: “The charge is not in relation to my actions around the time of the disaster but in relation to comments I made years afterwards. I will vigorously defend my innocence as I have been doing for nearly five years.”
Born in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, Sir Norman joined his local force as a police constable, aged 19. He was sent to Oxford University, where he gained an MA in philosophy and psychology.
Appointed Chief Constable of the Merseyside Force in 1998, he left the service in 2005 to become the chief executive of a private firm that offered police training.
In January 2007 he returned to policing as Chief Constable of West Yorkshire. But in 2012 the Hillsborough Independent Panel report was highly critical of his role. He resigned in October 2012 and reportedly received an £83,000-a-year pension.
Sir Norman has been charged with four offences of misconduct in public office relating to allegations that he lied about the behaviour of fans on the day.
Donald Denton
Former chief superintendent Donald Denton was in charge of collecting statements from his colleagues in the aftermath of the disaster. A senior administrator based at Snig Hill in Sheffield he was required to liaise with the West Midlands force, the outside force tasked with investigating the disaster.
At last year’s inquests into the deaths of the 96 fans it was alleged that Mr Denton had led a team of officers who amended statements before they were sent to West Midlands Police.
It is alleged that more than 600 police statements were vetted, with 60 being amended. He has been charged with perverting the course of justice.
Alan Foster
A colleague of Mr Denton, former detective chief inspector Alan Forster allegedly assisted in the altering of police statements that were given to the inquiry into the disaster. He is charged with perverting the course of justice.
Peter Metcalf
As the solicitor acting for South Yorkshire Police during the 1990 Lord Justice Taylor report, Mr Metcalf was involved in the submission of police statements.
It is alleged that after receiving what was known as a “Salmon” letter from the public inquiry team, setting out the areas in which the police might be criticised, he used it as a “check list” before altering statements to put officers in a more favourable light.
Mr Metcalf has vehemently denied allegations that he set out to “protect the force at all costs”.
A statement from the CPS said: “He reviewed the accounts provided by the officers and made suggestions for alterations, deletions and amendments which we allege were directly relevant to the Salmon letter issued by the Taylor Inquiry and for which there appears to be no justification.”
Initially frozen by indecision, Duckenfield eventually ordered that Gate C be opened
Graham Mackrell
A qualified accountant, Mr Mackrell had been club secretary at Bournemouth and Luton football clubs before taking on the same role at Sheffield Wednesday in 1986.
He had overall responsibility for safety at the stadium and was responsible for ensuring it met national standards. During last year’s inquests it was revealed that at a match the year before, a number of fans had been crushed. However, despite the warnings, the club considered the match to have been a success in terms of safety.
Mr Mackrell is now a director of the League Managers’ Association.
Mr Mackrell is charged with two offences in relation to the issuing of the safety certificate and one offence in connection with alleged health and safety breaches.