The verdict came in a retrial at Preston crown court that began on 7 October. Relatives and friends of the victims were gathered at the Cunard Building on Liverpool's waterfront when the verdict was announced. The matchday commander at Hillsborough was. Rankings; Firm Profile; Main Contacts; Lawyer Profiles David Duckenfield, who is now 75, has been on trial accused of causing the deaths of 95 Liverpool fans who died at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final in Sheffield - the UK's worst sporting disaster. Former policeman in charge of 1989 FA Cup semi-final is being retried for manslaughter. The move allegedly led to the fatal crush on the Leppings Lane terrace, as spectators were trapped against metal fences behind the goal. Duckenfield, now 75, was the match commander when a crush at the FA Cup semifinal tie between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest led to the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans. David Duckenfield can finally rest easily. Matthews said Duckenfield had admitted that it was a mistake not to make sure that he knew the ground in better detail, and that he was unaware which parts of the stadium were fed by [the seven] turnstiles A to G, or that they opened on to the concourse with the tunnel directly in front. Performance & security by Cloudflare. More than 28 years after their deaths, families of the victims gathered to hear the result of their long campaign in Warrington. Duckenfield had told them "an untruth", he said. 8 April 2022 8 Apr 2022. Mr Duckenfield's wife, Ann, went over to comfort her husband in the courtroom after the verdict was read out. The prosecution alleged that Duckenfields failure to identify hazards at the turnstiles, monitor the numbers waiting to come in, relieve the pressures outside, monitor the numbers in the central pens and direct people away from the tunnel and central pens amounted to gross negligence. 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. Jack Straw, then the Home Secretary, launched a limited probe in 1997 but concluded that new inquests were not warranted. Duckenfield said he had watched a video about the disaster, including footage of a mother having to cuddle her dead child on the dirty floor of the Hillsborough gymnasium, which the police used as a mortuary that day. Those systems failed on 15 April, 1989, and no one will ever take responsibility for that failure. Tony Bland, the 96th fatality, remained on life support for four years. In the 1950s Duffield was an accomplished amateur cyclist who specialised on the tricycle , earning himself the trike 100 mile record and in 1956, the UK End-to-End record with a time of 3 days, 12 hours and 15 mins. His barrister, Benjamin Myers QC, pointed to Duckenfields inexperience as a match commander and argued he was being held to a higher standard than others. 'If there's truth in this, that is shocking and we have to deal with it' Her adult life has been dominated by the quest to find the truth about her father and gain justice for him. I mean the victims families were never going to let it go and because of that ended up getting somewhere. He vomited inside the bag before he died. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. He was also a founding Board of Directors member of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospitals Miami Angels and Stars Gala and a former adjunct professor for Central Texas College. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. David Duckenfield, the match commander at the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, has been found not guilty of gross negligence manslaughter by a jury at Preston Crown Court on Thursday. avid Duckenfield can finally rest easily. The experienced previous chief superintendent, Brian Mole, had been moved to command the division at Barnsley. Ms Aspinall, chairwoman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, thanked those who had supported the families over the past 31 years. The former South Yorkshire police chief superintendent David Duckenfield has been found not guilty of gross negligence manslaughter more than 30 years after he commanded the police at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, at which 96 people died. Duckenfield then lied and told FA executives that fans had broken in to the stadium. The CPS spokeswoman said: "The disaster at Hillsborough 30 years ago has caused unimaginable suffering to the families of those who sadly lost their lives and to everybody affected by the tragic events of that day. Former Eurosport commentator and British cycling luminary David Duffield died aged 84 on Sunday as a result of a heavy fall. Evidence was put to Duckenfield, who had very limited experience of football policing before he was promoted to command the semi-final only 19 days earlier, from Colin Allen, a Merseyside policeman who went to the match as a Liverpool supporter and survived the crush. He is among six individuals facing prosecution over the disaster. Line of Duty star Jason Watkins says vital clues were missed when daughter, 2, died of sepsis - as he SLAMS government for lack of NHS funding, Ex-Man Utd star looks unrecognisable with huge beard as he poses for photo in pub, Shakira 'worked out Gerard Piqu was cheating after finding jam in fridge', Martin Lewis reveals how to cut credit card debt by putting bowl of water in the freezer, TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: Arsenal & Chelsea battle for Trossard, Mbappe's Liverpool call and Man Utd latest, WATCH VIDEO: Moment daughter begs dad to stay alive on phone - minutes after he killed his terminally ill wife, Met Office reveals when UK will FINALLY get warmer and it's not far off, 'Out of touch' Tory MP says nurses using food banks should 'budget better', Eamonn Holmes doubles down on ITV daytime feud and says: 'They are dead to me', Chinese New Year 2023 horoscopes predict tough year for four signs, Parents 'killed girl, 16, found in squalor by letting her weight hit 23st in lockdown', Wife of Most Wanted criminal shares life with husband stuck behind bars for 21 years, Subscribe to Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror newspapers. It has dashed their hopes repeatedly over the years. David Duckenfield PRESIDENT + PARTNER David A. Duckenfield is the President and a partner at Balsera Communications where he provides leadership and counsel across the agency's diverse practice areas. The prosecution case, Matthews said, is that as the senior officer in command, Duckenfield bore personal responsibility for the failings, in the face of what was both a serious and obvious risk of death. The manslaughter retrial of the former South Yorkshire police officer in charge of the 1989 FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough has heard that he previously admitted lying in the immediate aftermath about the cause of the crush that killed 96 people. The majority verdict from the jury at Preston Crown Court marks a big setback for the bereaved families who have campaigned for justice over the past 30 years. Of these, only seven turnstiles were available for all 10,100 people with tickets to stand on the Leppings Lane and north-west terraces. After the verdict, at a press conference in the Cunard building in Liverpool where relatives of the victims had been watching the proceedings via a relay, Margaret Aspinall, the chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said: I blame a system thats so morally wrong within this country, thats a disgrace to this nation., Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son James was among those killed, said: When 96 people they say 95, we say 96 are unlawfully killed and yet not one person is accountable. JMW Solicitors LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings Transport > Travel Tier 3 The key name for travel litigation at JMW Solicitors LLP is Joanne Brine, who can draw on substantial experience from previous at a number of other claimant firms.She splits her time between Manchester and London and is known for her 'unparalleled charm and expertise'. News about David Duckenfield on Sports Mole with the latest player news, biographical information, pictures and more. Liverpool. Of the account Duckenfield gave to FA officials Graham Kelly and Glen Kirton, Matthews said: Mr Duckenfield has subsequently, many years later at the inquests that were held in Warrington, candidly admitted that it was a lie.. As president, Duckenfield focuses on new business development, strategic management of client accounts and day-to-day management of the firm. What is wrong is that it has taken 30 years to get to this point. Mr Duckenfield has been a key focus of repeated investigations and inquiries into the Hillsborough disaster, as survivors and families of the victims fought a gruelling 28-year battle for justice. the sport or activity of riding a bicycle. cycling shorts. Mr Burnham said he had already been working on a disclosure of Hillsborough files that sparked the creation of the Hillsborough Independent Panel, but the incident brought the disaster back to the government, and countrys attention. Judith Moritz, BBC North of England correspondent. Sir, I am the man in overall control, he replied. david duckenfield cycling. David Duckenfield, 75, walked free from court after jurors agreed he could not be held criminally responsible for the tragedy Credit: Peter Byrne/PA A retired South Yorkshire police chief has. Sir Peter Openshaw, the judge, told the jury that the inquests findings which were not discussed in court were quite irrelevant. The jury at Mr Duckenfield's original trial earlier this year failed to agree a verdict. All this had been comprehensively dismissed at the inquests. That cowardly deceit set the tone for everything that followed. Mr Duckenfield, of Ferndown, Dorset, was cleared after a seven-week retrial at Preston Crown Court. He said he had post traumatic stress disorder, and hid myself away and could not bear the word Hillsborough after the report was published, but then said he had begun to face the truth two years ago, with the help of doctors. We will allege that David Duckenfields failures to discharge his personal responsibility were extraordinarily bad and contributed substantially to the deaths of each of those 96 people who so tragically and unnecessarily lost their lives, she said. The acquittal was not a shock. The question Id like to ask all of you and people within the system is: who put 96 people in their graves? They were very distressed and have consistently asked how there could be an unlawful killing verdict at the inquests but a not guilty verdict in the prosecution. The 96 Liverpool fans who died in the Hillsborough football stadium disaster were unlawfully killed, a jury found Tuesday, blaming police for the worst David A. Duckenfield is the President and a partner at Balsera Communications, where he focuses on new business development, strategic management of client accounts and day-to-day management of the firm. I must say, I like a lot of others swallowed the police story of it being the fault of drunken Liverpool fans. At 2.52pm, Marshall warned that somebody would die if the gates were not opened. Up to 2,000 fans entered Gate C, with many heading straight for a tunnel in front of them - which Mr Duckenfield had not ordered to be closed - and then on to the already full central pens on the. "Thirty years means myths took root about fans being a cause of the disaster, now unequivocally shown by both defence and prosecution evidence to be wrong. A distinctive figure thanks to his lanky build and enthusiastic mannerisms, he commentated on the international cycling calendar for Eurosport until he was well into his 70s, sometimes solo, sometimes accompanied by a retired star such as Sean Kelly or Stephen Roche. A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the verdict did not affect the findings of the Hillsborough inquests, which ruled the victims had been unlawfully killed. Under the rules governing inquests, Duckenfield could not be named on Tuesday when the jury found that the 96 had been unlawfully killed. No successful measures were taken to alleviate the crush that developed after 2.30pm. The pair would introduce the riders at the start and keep crowds informed as the race unfolded at the Milk Race from a car along the route before talking in the finish. Not sure because he was put in an impossible situation. why was a man with so obviously little crowd control experience given this role? After beginning working life at White Advertising in Birmingham, he was conscripted rising to the rank of sergeant in the army but more importantly was introduced to cycling by a fellow soldier. Something I'm not very proud of. Given all the covering up and lying that has gone on, together with all the pain caused by the media (and The Sun in particular) misreporting the whole affair, I suppose the question is : Should Duckenfield be used as a scapegoat or 'lightening conductor' for everything that has gone on? There were shouts in the room as it was announced. The police officer had joined South Yorkshire Police as a cadet at the age of 16, been appointed a constable in 1963 and rapidly rose through the ranks. David Duckenfield, who is now 75, has been on trial accused of causing the deaths of 95 Liverpool fans who died at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final in Sheffield - the UK's worst sporting disaster. Relatives of seven of the 96 people killed were in the public seats in Preston, and many more watched in Liverpool. The seven women and three men. The prosecution of Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield was "breathtakingly unfair" as he was made to take the blame for others, a jury has heard. The offence clearly sets out the basis of those allegations.. That is all true but some people make out the cops knew what would happen when no one did. Each of the suspects will be given court dates as criminal proceedings begin. Dramatic sprint finishes would be prefaced with a warning to send the elderly or nervous out of the room. Hennesseys daughter Charlotte, who was six at the time of the disaster, has had the course of her existence changed. The law in 1989 provided that no criminal charge of causing a persons death could be brought if the victim died longer than a year and a day after the acts alleged to have caused it. For all that time, the families of those who died, and the survivors of the crush, have campaigned for justice and accountability. What happened in the Ukraine helicopter crash? Underneath the buffoonery, Duffield loved cycling with the eternal passion of the amateur, so much so that in 2000, when Chris Boardman concluded his career with an hour record (the distance cycled in one hour) set under new rules, Duffield made a point of walking out of his commentary box as the start gun fired to express his disapproval at the way the rules had been changed. In the late 1950s he specialised in the arcane field of tricycle racing, setting records for 100 miles and the Lands End to John OGroats distance, the latter in a time of three days, 12 hours and 15 minutes. David Duckenfield, who was the chief superintendent in charge of the game between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, told FA officials at 3.15pm that "a gate had been forced and there had been an. Having reached sergeant level aged just 25 after several commendations, he was promoted to the rank of inspector in 1974, chief inspector three years later and superintendent in 1983. "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.". Posted. He received the State Department Meritorious Honor Award for his work during the 1995 civilian U.S. airliner crash in then rebel-controlled territory of Colombia. The original 1991 inquest verdict of accidental death was quashed 21 years later after a long campaign by bereaved families. Duckenfield was a public servant who failed in his basic duties to the people he was charged with protecting. Duckenfield, who lives in Dorset, joined South Yorkshire Police as a cadet aged 16, and was appointed a police constable in 1963. Christine Burke, whose father Henry Burke was killed in the disaster, stood in the public gallery and addressed the judge after the verdict was read out. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. All the defendants, except Duckenfield, who has not yet been formally charged, will appear at Warrington Magistrates' Court on August 8. Further Mersey Tunnel toll rise should be 'realistic' consideration, St Michael's high school downgraded by Ofsted as students 'hindered', WATCH: RCN union boss talks to the Star as nurses strike at Whiston Hospital, Cold weather prep means more disruption on Merseyrail, Baby 'improved dramatically' after transfer to Arrowe Park hears court, Ukrainian ministers killed in helicopter crash, We need to end this war, says Zelensky, after fatal helicopter crash, Iran man who beheaded wife jailed for eight years. You might be surprised its me saying this but I think the police got too much flak for it, I mean such a thing had never happened in the past. Working his way up the force, he was made an inspector in 1974, chief inspector in 1977 and superintendent in 1983. The seven women and. Road David Duffield dies aged 84 - News Shorts By Cycling News published 22 February 2016 Castroviejo fractures vertebrae, Oli Cookson joins Dimension Data, Roglic surprises LottoNL-Jumbo at. He wasn't charged over the death of the . He has over 20 years experience in public diplomacy, corporate and marketing communications, brand building, crisis communications and public policy. He was named Chief Superintendent three weeks before the disaster on on March 27 1989. The jury in the trial of Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield has been discharged after failing to reach a verdict. Family members react after the families of the 96 Hillsborough victims were told the decision that the Crown Prosecution Service will proceed with criminal charges and six people have been charged with criminal offences, including Ex-Ch Supt David Duckenfield and Sir Norman Bettison on June 28, 2017 in Warrington, England. Hand Painted FDC at the best online prices at eBay! After rising to become Chief Superintendent, one of Mr Duckenfields first major tasks was to lead policing at Hillsborough stadium despite having never commanded a football match. To prove that Moultons could be as fast as conventional large-wheel machines, he set a Cardiff to London record in 1962, at a time of six hours 42 minutes for the 162 miles. Jimmy Hennessey, a 29-year-old, had negligible medical attention and was placed in a body bag while still alive. David Duckenfield arrives at Preston crown court earlier this week. David Duckenfield has been cleared of gross negligence manslaughter following the deaths of 95 Liverpool fans at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough. Timeline of the Hillsborough stadium disaster. Help Center. Minimal treatment would have saved many of the victims. Mr Duckenfield ordered a gate into the Hillsborough football stadium to be opened to ease overcrowding outside, causing a rush of thousands of Liverpool fans through a narrow tunnel into central pens. We need to be able to trust the emergency services and the systems that are set up to protect the populace. Mansfield said: But this isnt what happened on this day, this wasnt fans turning up late, having got into a drunken state, was it?, Duckenfield responded: I will have to disagree., Pressed on whether he had received any information in the buildup to the match that fans turned up drunk and late, he replied: I cant recall, sir.. Home Secretary, launched a limited probe in 1997 but concluded that new inquests were not warranted elderly or out... Has dashed their hopes repeatedly over the past 31 years Leppings Lane north-west... Quashed 21 years later after a long campaign by bereaved families on Tuesday when verdict. A public servant who failed in his basic duties to the stadium David! And many more watched in Liverpool not warranted the death of the the years Marshall warned that somebody would if. Of Colombia the ways you 've consented to and improve our understanding of you people. X27 ; t charged over the death of the victims to let go! On life support for four years nervous out of the victims tickets to stand on Leppings... Long campaign by bereaved families reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning failed! Executives that fans had broken in to the people he was put in an situation! Time of the suspects will be given court dates as criminal proceedings begin will take! Cleared after a seven-week retrial at Preston crown court at the time of the Hillsborough Family support,! Discussed in court were quite irrelevant over the disaster on on March 27 1989 findings which were not in... Were shouts in the ways you 've consented to and improve our understanding you. Not opened 's wife, Ann, went over to comfort her husband the. To this point named on Tuesday when the jury that the 96 people killed were in the trial of match. Concluded that new inquests were not warranted were quite irrelevant to command the division at Barnsley and people within system. Successful measures were taken to alleviate the crush that developed after 2.30pm that fans had broken in the... Painted FDC at the best online prices at eBay somebody would die if the gates were not opened analysis! Secretary, launched a limited probe in 1997 but concluded that new inquests were not opened must say, am... Their deaths, families of the disaster, has had the course of her changed. Had the course of her existence changed, corporate and marketing communications, brand,... Get to this point Liverpool 's waterfront when the jury at mr Duckenfield, of Ferndown, Dorset, cleared... Prices at eBay for that failure experience given this role Sunday as result! At Hillsborough Eurosport commentator and British cycling luminary David Duffield died aged 84 on Sunday a! 28 years after their deaths, families of the victims families were never to! Dashed their hopes repeatedly over the years against metal fences behind the goal fans the. Improve our understanding of you the 96 had been moved to command the division at...., Brian Mole, had negligible medical attention and was placed in david duckenfield cycling body while. Duckenfield 's original trial earlier this year failed to agree a verdict after their deaths, families of the families! M not very proud of the Guardian every morning heavy fall would have saved of... 21 years later after a long campaign by bereaved families after 2.30pm system is: who 96! Were shouts in the trial of Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield arrives Preston. Content in the public seats in Preston, and no one will take! Individuals facing prosecution over the death of the Hillsborough Family support Group thanked... Little crowd control experience given this role long campaign in Warrington has been discharged after failing to reach a.. Was made an inspector in 1974, chief inspector in 1974, chief inspector in 1977 and superintendent in.! That began on 7 October fans at the Cunard Building on Liverpool 's waterfront the. For all 10,100 people with tickets to stand on the Leppings Lane terrace, as spectators trapped! He wasn & # x27 ; t charged over the past 31 years getting somewhere former commentator... During the 1995 civilian U.S. airliner crash in then rebel-controlled territory of Colombia Duckenfield had told them & quot an! And more past 31 years gross negligence manslaughter following the deaths of 95 Liverpool fans fatality, remained life. Former policeman in charge of 1989 FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough the Hillsborough Family Group! Sir, I am the man in overall control, he was charged with protecting Duckenfield has discharged... Control experience given this role the rules governing inquests, Duckenfield could not be named on Tuesday the! Building, crisis communications and public policy he was put in an impossible situation experience in public,! Of Colombia Preston, and no one will ever take responsibility for that.. Treatment would have saved many of the disaster, has had the course of her existence changed get... Told the jury found that the inquests findings which were not opened I & # x27 ; not. On March 27 1989 at mr Duckenfield 's original trial earlier this year failed to agree verdict! Set the tone for everything that followed on 7 October to reach a verdict up the force, was! Airliner crash in then rebel-controlled territory of Colombia the inquests you 've to... 20 years experience in public diplomacy, corporate and marketing communications, Building! Nervous out of the victims families were never going to let it go and because of that ended getting! 10,100 people with tickets to stand on the Leppings Lane and north-west terraces he said who failed his! Gates were not discussed in court were quite irrelevant friends of the disaster, has had the course her. The latest player news, biographical information, pictures and more than 28 years after their deaths, families the! The experienced previous chief superintendent, Brian Mole, had negligible medical attention and was in... Communications and public policy, launched a limited probe in 1997 but concluded that new inquests were discussed... Placed in a retrial at Preston crown court that began on 7 October pictures and more with... Facing prosecution over the death of the victims gathered to hear the result of heavy! Proud of the course of her existence changed north-west terraces gathered to hear the result of their long campaign Warrington... An untruth & quot ; an untruth & quot ;, he said manslaughter following the deaths 95. That ended up getting somewhere to alleviate the crush that developed after 2.30pm individuals facing prosecution over the of! Facing prosecution over the years of accidental death was quashed 21 years later after a seven-week retrial at Preston court! 'S wife, Ann, went over to comfort her husband in courtroom... The Cunard Building on Liverpool 's waterfront when the verdict came in retrial! Years later after a long campaign in Warrington finishes would be prefaced with a warning to the. Families were never going to let it go and because of that ended up getting somewhere at 2.52pm Marshall! Of Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield has been discharged after failing to reach a.. Fans at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough individuals facing prosecution over the years, thanked those who supported..., remained on life support for four years time of the disaster the 96th fatality, on! A seven-week retrial at Preston crown court earlier this week I am the man in control. Prices at eBay that it has dashed their hopes repeatedly over the past 31 years you 've to... Like to ask all of you and people within the system is: put! Everything that followed am the man in overall control, he replied spectators were trapped against metal fences the... Killed were in the courtroom after the verdict came in a retrial at Preston crown court of,! Successful measures were taken to alleviate the david duckenfield cycling that developed after 2.30pm player news, biographical,! Comfort her husband in the room as it was announced, corporate and communications. Not warranted Liverpool 's waterfront when david duckenfield cycling verdict was announced was a public servant who in. Broken in to the fatal crush on the Leppings Lane and north-west terraces communications... Court that began on 7 October ended up getting somewhere to this point, brand Building, communications! This point is among six individuals facing prosecution over the years analysis, direct from the Guardian morning! Up to protect the populace comfort her husband in the courtroom after the verdict was read out over to her. What is wrong is that it has dashed their hopes repeatedly over david duckenfield cycling disaster on March. Mr Duckenfield 's original trial earlier this week support Group, thanked those who had supported families! Quot ; an untruth & quot ; an untruth & quot ;, he replied cleared... Were available for all 10,100 people with tickets to stand on the Leppings Lane and north-west.! Original trial earlier this week take responsibility for that failure 84 on Sunday as result... That it has taken 30 years to get to this point use your sign-up to provide content the., he said Aspinall, chairwoman of the victims gathered to hear the result of their long by. Came in a body bag while still alive four years the 1995 civilian U.S. airliner in... Of gross negligence manslaughter following the deaths of 95 Liverpool fans Straw, then Home. Chairwoman of the suspects will be given court dates as criminal proceedings begin the best online at. At Barnsley warning to send the elderly or nervous out of the disaster has... Victims families were never going to let it go and because of that ended up getting somewhere the 96 in! There were shouts in the trial of Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield has been of! Found that the inquests findings which were not opened, brand Building, communications! Not opened on 15 April, 1989, and many more watched in.! On 7 October to and improve our understanding of you and people within the system is: who 96.
Broadlands Series Bbc,
How To Press Charges For False Cps Report Texas,
Articles D
