97 people died from the Hillsborough disaster that took place on April 15, 1989 (Picture: PA/Hillsborough Inquests)
Families of Hillsborough disaster victims say they will ‘never get justice’ as a report found that 12 officers would have faced gross misconduct cases if they had not retired.
Charlotte Hennessy, whose father Jimmy died in the tragedy that killed 96 others, gave her reaction to a much-awaited report which found police tried to shift the blame for the deaths onto the Liverpool fans themselves.
No disciplinary proceedings will take place because they had all retired when investigations by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and Operation Resolve into the 1989 tragedy began in 2012.
‘Nobody’s ever going to go to prison for killing them so we’ll never get justice and we knew that.’
Ms Hennessy said: ‘We will never truly know the full extent of South Yorkshire Police force’s deception, but there is no hiding, there is no destroying, and there is no way to cover up that they failed their duties and then they sought to blame the victims.’
Sign up for all of the latest stories
Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.
Margaret Aspinall’s 18-year-old son died in the disaster, she said: ‘This is going to change things for other people.‘It’s going to do nothing for the Hillsborough families. We know that, we accept that, we understand that.‘But what we’ve been campaigning for is to change things for the good of the nation and to me that is what this is all about.’
Eight of the 12 officers who would have had a case to answer over Hillsborough disaster1st row L-R: Mervyn Jones, Norman Bettison, Bernard Murray, Peter Wright2nd row L-R: Walter Jackson, David Duckenfield, Alan Foster, Roger Marshall Pictures: (GETTY / LIVERPOOL ECHO / REUTERS / PA_
The Independent Officer for Police Conduct (IOPC) found cases to answer for misconduct in 92 complaints about police action.
However, none of the officers will face disciplinary action, as the law at the time prevented proceedings against those who had already retired when the investigations began.
IOPC and criminal probe Operation Resolve’s investigations into the disaster began in 2012, following the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel Report.
Nicola Brook, a solicitor at Broudie Jackson Canter acting for several bereaved families, said it was a ‘bitter injustice’ that no one would be held to account.
She said: ‘This outcome may vindicate the bereaved families and survivors who have fought for decades to expose the truth – but it delivers no justice.
‘Instead, it exposes a system that has allowed officers to simply walk away, retiring without scrutiny, sanction, or consequence for failing to meet the standards the public has every right to expect.
‘Yes, the law has now changed, so this loophole cannot be used in future. But for those affected by this case, that is no consolation.
‘They are left with yet another bitter injustice: the truth finally acknowledged, but accountability denied.’
What was the Hillsborough disaster?
Tragedy ensued during an FA Cup football match (Picture: PA/PA Wire)
The disaster took place on April 15, 1989, at Sheffield’s Hillsborough ground.
During an FA Cup football match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, tragedy happened because of overcrowding.
It is believed that an exit gate was opened to relieve crowds outside turnstiles, which allowed more than 2,500 fans to enter the stadium, causing a fatal crowd crush.
The total number of people who died as a result of the disaster is 97, and 766 people were injured.
Among those who would have had cases to answer for gross misconduct if they were still serving are South Yorkshire Police’s then-chief constable Peter Wright, match commander David Duckenfield and Sir Norman Bettison, who later became chief constable of Merseyside Police.
Families had been ‘repeatedly let down’
IOPC deputy director general Kathie Cashell said the victims, their families, and survivors had been ‘repeatedly let down’.
She said: ‘First by the deep complacency of South Yorkshire Police in its preparation for the match, followed by its fundamental failure to grip the disaster as it unfolded, and then through the force’s concerted efforts to deflect the blame onto the Liverpool supporters, which caused enormous distress to bereaved families and survivors for nearly four decades.
‘They were let down again by the inexplicably narrow investigation into the disaster conducted by West Midlands Police, which was a missed opportunity to bring these failings to light much sooner.’
Mervyn Jones, who was assistant chief constable, and then-DSC Michael Foster were the two West Midlands officers who led the investigation into the disaster.
Liverpool supporters tried to climb to safety during the crush at Sheffield’s Hillsborough ground (Picture: David Giles/ PA Wire)
They were referred to the Crown Prosecution Service for their failings, but the threshold for prosecution was not met, according to the report.
The IOPC said both former officers would have had a case to answer for gross misconduct for failing to carry out a rigorous investigation, because they were ‘biased toward the force and against the supporters.’
Mr Duckenfield, 81, a chief superintendent on the day, was cleared of gross negligence manslaughter by a jury in 2019.
The IOPC report said he ‘froze in crisis’ and found he had a case to answer for gross misconduct in respect of ten allegations.
These allegations included the failure to respond and telling FA officials that fans had forced their way in – something he later acknowledged was a lie.
Allegations that fans were to blame for the disaster were ‘wholly refuted’ at new inquests into the deaths, the report noted.
Fans were allegedly blamed for the disaster that killed 97 people (Picture: John Giles/ PA Wire)
Police misconduct investigation
Mr Duckenfield’s second-in-command, Bernard Murray, and his superior, assistant chief constable Walter Jackson, were noted to have failed in the planning of the match.
Officers on duty in the Leppings Lane end, Roger Marshall, a superintendent, then-inspector Harry White, and sergeant John Morgan would have also faced cases for gross misconduct, according to the report.
Mounted police constable David Scott would have faced a case of gross misconduct for his account that his horse suffered cigarette burns from Liverpool fans – an incident which did not take place, based on evidence, the IOPC said.
South Yorkshire Police chief, Mr Wright, who died in 2011, was found to be ‘insensitive’ by investigations looking at allegations he attempted to promote a false narrative.
Chief inspector at the time, Sir Norman’s case would have been in relation to allegations that he was deliberately dishonest about his involvement in the disaster.
Hundreds of floral tributes were left for the victims of the disaster (Picture: Peter Kemp/AP)
When applying for the chief constable job at Merseyside, he misled the public in press statements, the IOPC said.
The retired chief, who also led West Yorkshire Police, was charged with misconduct in a public office as part of the investigation, but the case was dropped in 2018.
Retired DCI Alan Foster would have had a gross misconduct case to answer for allegations he pressured officers who resisted amendments to their statements, the IOPC found.
Mr Foster, former chief superintendent Donald Denton and former solicitor Peter Metcalf were charged with doing acts tending and intended to pervert the course of justice.
But, halfway through their trial, in 2021, a judge ruled there was no case to answer.
IOPC’d Kathie Cashell said the victims, their families, and survivors had been ‘repeatedly let down’ (Picture: Peter Kemp/ AP)
Allegations of an orchestrated cover-up
South Yorkshire Police did attempt to deflect blame for the disaster away from the police, investigators found.
Ms Cashell said they did not find evidence of an orchestrated cover-up to the evidence threshold, which they would need to meet.
No evidence that attempts to deflect blame were related to Freemasonry, or an attempt to protect a Freemason, was found, the report said.
More Trending
-
Ex-England and Premier League footballer arrested on suspicion of attempted rape
Channel: UK UK 8 hours ago By Brooke Davies - Sarah Everard's mother 'still tormented by the horror of her final hours'
- Gary Lineker clashes with Tommy Robinson over video of him walking with daughter-in-law
- Shoppers 'ran for their lives' after man stabbed in a Post Office
The only person to be convicted as a result of the probe is former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary Graham Mackrell.
He was fined £6,500 and ordered to pay £5,000 costs after he was found guilty of failing to ensure the health and safety of fans arriving at the ground.
In a statement, South Yorkshire Police Federation said: ‘The report is a significant waste of taxpayers’ time and taxpayers’ money.‘It is not fair or balanced.‘Former police officers – some of whom are very elderly and some who have sadly passed away – do not have any kind of due process or the ability to formally respond to the allegations made in this report.’Ms Hennessy said the police federation had ‘chosen to double down and highlight that some of their officers are now very elderly’.
She said: ‘Well, our loved ones didn’t get to live to have that privilege.‘We refute their contention that they have not had the right to reply.‘Our understanding is that anyone named to the report would have either been interviewed or had the opportunity to respond to any criticisms levelled.‘Shame on every single one of you.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
For more stories like this, check our news page.
Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source News UpdatesStay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.
Email I agree to receive newsletters from Metro I agree to receive newsletters from Metro Sign UpSign UpThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy
