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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Hillsborough Inquests: Policeman says some fans had 'drunk too much' | Hillsborough Inquests: Policeman says some fans had 'drunk too much' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Ninety-six Liverpool fans died as a result of the crush at the FA Cup semi-final in Sheffield. | |
| The inquests in Warrington heard how an initial crush of fans developed outside the stadium before kick-off. | The inquests in Warrington heard how an initial crush of fans developed outside the stadium before kick-off. |
| Former superintendent Roger Marshall, who was in charge of the Liverpool fans, denied he was "out of his depth". | Former superintendent Roger Marshall, who was in charge of the Liverpool fans, denied he was "out of his depth". |
| 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. |
| 'Coloured their judgement' | 'Coloured their judgement' |
| During his second day in the witness box, Mr Marshall was questioned by barristers representing families who lost loved ones in the disaster. | During his second day in the witness box, Mr Marshall was questioned by barristers representing families who lost loved ones in the disaster. |
| Pete Weatherby QC said footage shot outside the stadium showed "no obvious drink-fuelled behaviour". | Pete Weatherby QC 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' | '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, wouldn't 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. |
| Mr Marshall was also questioned by Peter Wilcock QC, who represents another group of families, | Mr Marshall was also questioned by Peter Wilcock QC, who represents another group of families, |
| The barrister questioned how much experience Mr Marshall had of policing the "unique situation at Leppings Lane". | The barrister questioned how much experience Mr Marshall had of policing the "unique situation at Leppings Lane". |
| 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 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 Wilcock then asked: "Mr Marshall, is the sad fact that you were out of your depth on April 15, 1989?" | Mr Wilcock then asked: "Mr Marshall, is the sad fact that you were out of your depth on April 15, 1989?" |
| The retired officer said: "No, I don't think I was out of my depth, I was doing my best." | 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. | 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". | 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?" | 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. | Mr Marshall repeated he was doing his "best" in the situation in which he found himself. |
| The inquests continue. | The inquests continue. |