Today the Crown Prosecution Service have criminally charged six people over the Hillsborough Tragedy, 28 years after the events that occurred at an FA Cup semi-final at Sheffield Wednesday’s ground between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, and the alleged police cover-up that followed:
- David Duckenfield – Chief Superintendent
- Norman Bettison – Inspector
- Donald Denton – Chief Superintendent
- Graham Mackrell – Sheffield Wednesday Club Secretary
- Peter Metcalf – Force Solicitor
- Alan Foster – Chief Inspector
David Duckenfield was officer in charge of policing at the match on 15th April 1989, and has been charged with the manslaughter of 95 of the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives. The CPS stated that Duckenfield’s failure to take responsibility at the match was “extraordinarily bad and contributed substantially to the deaths of each of those 96 people who so tragically and unnecessarily lost their lives”.
Norman Bettison, who was an inspector for South Yorkshire Police at the time of the disaster, has been charged with four counts of misconduct. Bettison allegedly told lies about his involvement in the disaster, with the CPS stating that “Given his role as a senior police officer, we will ask the jury to find that this was misconduct of such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public’s trust in the office holder.”
Graham Mackrell was Sheffield Wednesday Chief Executive at the time of the disaster, and was the official safety officer at the stadium. Mackrell has been charged with three offences for the breaching of Health and Safety regulations at the match.
South Yorkshire police chief superintendent Donald Denton, who had a senior role in policing at the FA Cup Semi-Final, chief inspector Alan Foster, and former South Yorkshire police solicitor Peter Metcalf, have all been charged for offences including perverting the course of justice. The CPS statement read “Denton, Foster and Metcalf are charged with doing acts with intent to pervert the course of justice relating to material changes made to witness statements.”
Barry Devonside, the father of Christopher, who lost his life following the crush in the Leppings Lane end of the Hillsborough football ground, said following the verdicts: “It was only right and proper that we fought for our loved ones. I was frightened we were going to be let down again. We have been smacked in the face on a number of occasions. The families have acted with the utmost of dignity.
28 years on, families have been campaigning for justice for the 96 fans who were unlawfully killed at the match in 1989. Today comes the charges for six key figures in the events that unfurled, including two senior police officials Duckenfield and Bettison. Besides Duckenfield, who will not appear for legal reasons, the remaining defendants will appear at Warrington Magistrates’ Court in August.
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