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Hillsborough inquest jury to visit scene of tragedy Hillsborough inquest: Police lawyers to probe fans' 'drunkenness'
(about 3 hours later)
Jurors in the fresh inquests into the Hillsborough tragedy will make a visit to the stadium but will not be allowed to read on-site tributes to the victims, a coroner heard. The disputed suggestion drunkenness among fans played a part in the Hillsborough disaster will be explored again in new inquests, lawyers for senior police officers have said.
The announcement was made at a fifth preliminary hearing ahead of the new inquests, due to start next month. The disclosure drew angry cries from victims' families at a hearing ahead of next month's fresh inquests.
Ninety-six Liverpool fans died as a result of a crush during an FA Cup semi-final game, on 15 April 1989. Ninety-six Liverpool fans died as a result of a crush in 1989 .
Fresh inquests into the deaths are set to begin on 31 March. The Hillsborough Independent Panel found no evidence alcohol "played any part in the genesis of the disaster".
Christina Lambert QC, counsel to the inquests, said there was "broad agreement" on the parts of the stadium and locations nearby which should be viewed by the jury in the inquests' early stages. Fresh inquests into the deaths at the FA semi-final match are set to begin on 31 March in Warrington, Cheshire.
"Our view is that it is reasonable for the jury to view the current police box even though its location is not precisely as it was in 1989," she told a pre-inquest hearing in central London. 'Present neutral opinion'
At the fifth pre-inquest hearing in central London, John Beggs QC acting for match commander Ch Supt David Duckenfield and other senior officers announced they intend to explore if drunkenness among fans contributed to the deaths.
In submissions to the coroner, Lord Justice Goldring, a QC representing 22 of the bereaved families, said his team have commissioned an expert report on alcohol to present a neutral opinion.
Lord Goldring will consider whether this can be given as evidence.
Newspaper reports that "drunk and ticketless" fans were to blame for the Hillsborough stadium disaster on 15 April 1989 were dismissed by the 1989 Taylor Inquiry which concluded the main cause was the police failure of crowd control.
The Hillsborough Independent Panel (HIP), published in September 2012, also cleared Liverpool supporters of any wrongdoing.
It said: "The Panel found no evidence among the vast number of disclosed documents and many hours of video material to verify the serious allegations of exceptional levels of drunkenness."
It added that an emphasis on alcohol consumption had "fuelled persistent and unsustainable assertions about drunken fan behaviour".
Earlier, the hearing was told jurors will also make a visit to the stadium but will not be allowed to read on-site tributes to the victims.
'Objective approach''Objective approach'
She added: "We also consider that it would appropriate for the jury to see the memorial but not to read the tributes. Christina Lambert QC, counsel to the inquests, said: "The reason that we make this final observation is because the jury must remain objective and must be seen to be objective in their approach to the issues.
"The reason that we make this final observation is because the jury must remain objective and must be seen to be objective in their approach to the issues. "Having visited the memorial myself, there is no doubt that the tributes that are made there are deeply moving."
"Having visited the memorial myself there is no doubt that the tributes that are made there are deeply moving." She added there was "broad agreement" on the parts of the stadium and locations nearby, which should be viewed by the jurors.
Ms Lambert told coroner Lord Justice Goldring that the fresh inquest should aim to conclude around Christmas time, so as not to overburden the jury with too much information. "Our view is that it is reasonable for the jury to view the current police box even though its location is not precisely as it was in 1989," Ms Lambert said.
But Patrick Roche, counsel to 74 of the 96 victims, countered: "We don't accept that Christmas is necessarily the limit, we don't accept at all that it is the limitation of the jury's patience or their ability to remember the evidence. She told coroner Lord Justice Goldring the fresh inquest should aim to conclude around Christmas time.
"Our families have no desire to prolong the inquest any more than is necessary." The High Court quashed the original inquest verdicts in December 2012 following publication of the Hillsborough panel report.
The High Court quashed the original inquest verdicts in December 2012 following publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel in September 2012, which said 41 of those who died might have been saved.
The new inquests are to be held in Warrington, Cheshire.