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Hillsborough Inquests: Roger Marshall criticises 'minority' of fans Hillsborough Inquests: Policeman says some fans had 'drunk too much'
(about 1 hour later)
A senior police officer has insisted a "substantial minority" of Liverpool supporters had a "responsibility" for what happened at Hillsborough in 1989. A senior police officer has told an inquest a "substantial minority" of fans "had had too much to drink" ahead of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.
Former superintendent Roger Marshall, who was in charge of Liverpool fans, denied he was blaming them for the fatal crush, the inquest jury heard. Ninety-six Liverpool fans died as a result of the crush at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final in Sheffield.
But he said some "had had a little bit too much" to drink. The inquests in Warrington heard how an initial crush of fans developed outside the stadium before kick-off.
Ninety-six fans died following overcrowding at the FA Cup semi-final at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium. Former superintendent Roger Marshall, who was in charge of the Liverpool fans, denied he was "out of his depth".
The hearing, in Warrington, Cheshire, heard how an initial crush of fans developed outside the stadium before kick-off.
Mr Marshall's requests for an exit gate to be opened to relieve the situation preceded the fatal crush inside the ground.Mr Marshall's requests for an exit gate to be opened to relieve the situation preceded the fatal crush inside the ground.
Peter Wilcock QC, representing 75 of the bereaved families, asked him "whether in your mind is the thought that if you hadn't asked for the gates to be opened then 96 people wouldn't have died?" 'Coloured their judgement'
Mr Marshall said: "Yes, I think that's true." During his second day in the witness box, Mr Marshall was questioned by barristers representing families who lost loved ones in the disaster.
Mr Wilcock asked Mr Marshall: "Is the sad fact that you were out of your depth?" Pete Weatherby QC said footage shot outside the stadium showed "no obvious drink-fuelled behaviour".
The former officer replied: "I don't think I was out of my depth. I was doing my very best."
He told the jury: "I was doing what I thought was my absolute best to sort it out. But I was just one person in the midst of what can clearly be seen as total mayhem. I don't think I can say anything more than that.
"The situation I found myself in the midst of was to me unprecedented."
'Substantial minority'
Pete Weatherby QC, who also represents a group of bereaved families, said footage shot outside the stadium showed "no obvious drink-fuelled behaviour".
However, Mr Marshall, the most senior South Yorkshire Police officer to give evidence at the inquests so far, said a "substantial minority" had drunk too much.However, Mr Marshall, the most senior South Yorkshire Police officer to give evidence at the inquests so far, said a "substantial minority" had drunk too much.
"People weren't lying on the floor totally incapacitated," he said."People weren't lying on the floor totally incapacitated," he said.
"People, quite rightly, had a drink or two, but I can tell you that some people had had a little bit too much, and the fact that they had had too much coloured their judgement.""People, quite rightly, had a drink or two, but I can tell you that some people had had a little bit too much, and the fact that they had had too much coloured their judgement."
Mr Weatherby said: "You are picking up an obvious fact from a leisure event of that nature that people will have a drink and are using that to shift the blame onto the fans."Mr Weatherby said: "You are picking up an obvious fact from a leisure event of that nature that people will have a drink and are using that to shift the blame onto the fans."
Mr Marshall replied: "No, I'm not doing that."Mr Marshall replied: "No, I'm not doing that."
'Professional best'
The retired officer said he was "surprised" by some media coverage of his first day's evidence which he claimed suggested he was blaming fans.The retired officer said he was "surprised" by some media coverage of his first day's evidence which he claimed suggested he was blaming fans.
But he said: "If you want my honest opinion, I think that some of the fans, not all the fans, some of the fans have a responsibility for what occurred and for the situation that arose under my command outside."But he said: "If you want my honest opinion, I think that some of the fans, not all the fans, some of the fans have a responsibility for what occurred and for the situation that arose under my command outside."
Mr Weatherby then asked: "Had the terrible tragedy not occurred, you would have gone home that evening without thinking twice about the level of drinking, would you?' Mr Weatherby then asked: "Had the terrible tragedy not occurred, you would have gone home that evening without thinking twice about the level of drinking, wouldn't you?"
Mr Marshall said: "Probably, yes."Mr Marshall said: "Probably, yes."
He also said officers had done their "professional best" and that the disaster was a tragedy for the police as well as the bereaved families.He also said officers had done their "professional best" and that the disaster was a tragedy for the police as well as the bereaved families.
"The outcome was tragic for everyone - not just the fans who lost their lives, which was awful, but also the families of those people. Mr Marshall was also questioned by Peter Wilcock QC, who represents another group of families,
"It's tragic for every police officer. It's a tragedy that affected us all. That should be obvious, I think, from the way that people have come here to speak." The barrister questioned how much experience Mr Marshall had of policing the "unique situation at Leppings Lane".
The court heard an independent expert commissioned by the coroner had concluded that, as the disaster unfolded, there were no more fans inside the stadium than tickets sold. Mr Marshall said: "The situation which I found myself in the midst of was to me unprecedented and I would guess it was unprecedented for many of the other senior officers in supervisory roles at that time."
Mr Weatherby told the court that "fans without tickets played absolutely no part in the events of 1989". Mr Wilcock then asked: "Mr Marshall, is the sad fact that you were out of your depth on April 15, 1989?"
However, Mr Marshall said he "couldn't be categoric about it". The retired officer said: "No, I don't think I was out of my depth, I was doing my best."
The jury was shown footage timed at 14:38 on the day of the disaster showing Mr Marshall in among the crowd.
Mr Wilcock said it showed Mr Marshall pointing a fan "to the turnstiles towards the crush".
The barrister said: "How does that fit in with someone in command trying to deal with excess numbers in the turnstile area? You are doing the opposite of what was required aren't you?"
Mr Marshall repeated he was doing his "best" in the situation in which he found himself.
The inquests continue.The inquests continue.