But ultimately the buck stops with me., Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. More than 2,000 fans entered through exit gate C once it was opened and many headed for the tunnel ahead of them, which led to the central pens where the crush happened. He said himself, in Warrington, he considered his words to then FA Chief Executive Graham Kelly a lie. A police doctor certified him as "unfit to undertake the duties of a police constable" and diagnosed him with "severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder". "Over this period, I have had to come to terms with reality, and that is why, over the period, you might say I dug my head in the sand, didn't admit things to myself, but I am now very much older, very much wiser, and very much more understanding of the events of the day and have decided to tell the whole truth. And despite the words of regret expressed in 2015, this included the resurrection of shameless claims about ticketless and late supporters. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Application for a retrial is refused. "I am really angry but I am trying be calm for these families who have suffered," she said. David Duckenfield, who as an inexperienced chief superintendent in the South Yorkshire police was in charge of the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, admitted he had not told the. The former South Yorkshire Police chief. Duckenfield did not give evidence in the trial as the court heard he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Three more defendants are still facing charges relating to Hillsborough: retired police officers Donald Denton, 80, and Alan Foster, 73, and police solicitor Peter Metcalf, 68, will all stand trial later this year. Sheffield Wednesday's former club secretary Graham Mackrell was found guilty of a health and safety offence in May 2019. The inquest jury concludes that the 96 victims were unlawfully killed and that Liverpool fans behaviour did not contribute to the crush. "We have immense admiration for the Hillsborough families, survivors and campaigners for what they have achieved and our thoughts remain with them and those 96 Liverpool supporters who went to watch their team and never came home.". The prosecution argued that, back then, Duckenfield was looking to shift blame. By 2.45pm, thousands of people were pressing into the turnstiles and alongside a large exit gate. We need to be able to trust the emergency services and the systems that are set up to protect the populace. If things go wrong it is important that investigations explain why and ensure the situation never occurs again. He will now be able to resume his life in retirement on the south coast. The CPS announces that a police officer and a farrier will not be prosecuted over allegations that they fabricated a story about a police horse being burnt with cigarettes at Hillsborough. "We firmly believe that we have done everything in our power to do right by our Steven and we walk away from this case with our dignity and our heads held high.". The turnstiles became difficult to operate and people were starting to be crushed. South Yorkshire Police match commander, David Duckenfield, is found not guilty of gross negligence manslaughter for the deaths of 95 Liverpool fans, in a retrial, by a majority of 9-1. It was David Duckenfield, Preston Crown Court heard, who told FA chiefs fans had gained entry through a "forced" stadium gate before the crush on the terraces beyond. That should never have happened, and we will continue to learn the . Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield has been found not guilty of the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool fans in the 1989 disaster. Duckenfields ordeal ended at Preston crown court on Thursday. HILLSBOROUGH DISASTER- DAVID DUCKENFIELD FOUND NOT GUILTY, David Duckenfield was in charge the day 96 Liverpool fans were killed at Hillsborough, David Duckenfield has been cleared of gross negligence manslaughter, Hillsborough football ground shown to the inquests, Police and fans on the pitch at Hillsborough football stadium in Sheffield on April 15 1989, The disaster claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool fans. Asked by Mansfield why he had chosen to remain silent for 26 years, Duckenfield said that he had been prompted to finally tell the whole truth after the publication of the report by the Hillsborough Independent Panel in 2012 and a television programme he had seen about the disasters effect on the families. The anniversary comes 12 days after a jury at Preston Crown Court failed to reach a verdict on the prosecution of the match commander, Ch Supt David Duckenfield, who was accused of gross negligence manslaughter, reports The Guardian. His lawyers argued those errors were accepted only in hindsight, and through the fight put up to try and stop him being prosecuted it was clear that, by the time he uttered not guilty at his manslaughter plea hearing in September 2018, he did not think those failings were so bad they were criminal. The new Labour governments home secretary, Jack Straw, notes the discussions but said public concern will not be allayed by a reassurance from the Home Office that there is no new evidence and proposes an independent review. Up to 41 of the dead might have survived had they been given oxygen. Christine, whose father Henry Burke was killed in the disaster, addressed the judge after the verdict was read out. Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield has been found not guilty of gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool supporters. But the jury accepted the defence case that the 75-year-old was a target of blame who was unfairly singled out for prosecution. 2023 BBC. Ben Myers QC made the claim in his. He acknowledged that even after he said he realised, at 3:04pm on the day, that he was facing a medical emergency not an incident of disorder, he called for police dogs to come to the ground, not ambulances. Crucially, the panel finds that 41 victims did not have signs of the crush injuries originally claimed by pathologists, and so may have been saved. David Duckenfield found not guilty over Hillsborough disaster Hillsborough: Former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary fined 6,500 Sheffield Wednesday FC is also criticised for an inadequate. One family member shouted: "Stitched up again.". The death of two witnesses and contradictions in the evidence of others is cited as part of the reason for the decision. "The journey that reached today's stage, and will continue, is testament to the perseverance and determination of all involved in the ongoing campaign for justice," the club said. After reviewing 450,000 documents, the Hillsborough Independent Panel publishes a report highlighting police failings and the alleged campaign to blame Liverpool supporters for the disaster. They knew the law would let them down. Lord Justice McCowan says he can see no fault in the coroner for cutting off the scope of the inquests at 3.15pm because he relied on medical evidence, and refuses to quash the verdicts. In February 2000, both officers appeal to the Divisional Court but fail and the trial is held in Leeds between 6 June and 24 July 2000. The man who caused so much pain has escaped the consequences. In the eyes of the law Duckenfield is an innocent man. Posted on 26 Feb in avondale redbud problems. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Tom Davidson Assistant news editor. They live with the misery every day. Medical assistance at Hillsborough was woefully inadequate. Former Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield at Preston Crown court. lifts the historic stay of further prosecution on Mr Duckenfield, fails to reach a verdict on the charges against Mr Duckenfield. The families of the 96 Liverpool fans who died at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final, the survivors who managed to get out of the overcrowded pens at the Leppings Lane end of Sheffield Wednesdays ground, and the campaigners who have fought relentlessly for justice for decades were expecting the verdict. Because of the length of time between the disaster and his death, the law does not allow Mr Duckenfield to be charged with Mr Blands manslaughter. Covid cut it short. Duckenfield responded: Sir, I was not outside the turnstiles, but I am not in a position to dispute his view.. The Hillsborough Family Support Group mounts a private prosecution of Duckenfield and his deputy, superintendentBernard Murray, for manslaughter. It remained open for more than five minutes. The Hillsborough match commander was cleared of gross negligence manslaughter. Read about our approach to external linking. ", Clive Coleman, BBC legal affairs correspondent. During days of intense questioning at the inquests in March 2015, he admitted that he had lied about mistakes he made on the day and had kept that lie going for 26 years and through several legal inquiries. I hoped it would go away. 2023 BBC. The inquest blames police decisions and the layout of the stadium for the deaths. Due to the ongoing proceedings relating to Duckenfield, and a forthcoming trial of two former South Yorkshire police officers and the forces then solicitor on charges of perverting the course of justice, the 30-year memorial ceremonies will be muted. He also rejects a prosecution application to prevent tweeting from court, sharing articles on social media or embedding video into news articles. Here is how events have unfolded in the 30 years since the disaster. There has been barely any for those who were mindbogglingly inept at Hillsborough. A jury failed to reach a verdict in the case of David Duckenfield, the former South Yorkshire police chief superintendent and match commander on the day of the Hillsborough disaster. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Sir Norman Bettison, the former police chief constable accused of blaming fans for the disaster, has all four criminal charges against him dropped. The prosecution in the case alleged Duckenfield, 75, had a 'personal responsibility' for what happened at the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, when 96 people were fatally injured . The Independent Police Complaints Commission launches an investigation into an alleged cover-up by officers in the aftermath of the disaster. Former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie apologises for the papers 1989 front page. Inquests into the 96 football fans who died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster have concluded they were unlawfully killed. This 1992 family photo shows, from left, her son Thomas . It took some tortuous legal logic to create a courtroom environment where this could be allowed to happen. What happened in Sheffield was beyond horrific. ", "It is important to remember that criminal proceedings have a very different purpose to an inquest.". 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