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Hillsborough Inquests: Replacing match commander 'a mistake' | Hillsborough Inquests: Replacing match commander 'a mistake' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A retired superintendent who was on duty at Hillsborough has said it was a "mistake" to replace an experienced match commander just weeks before the disaster. | A retired superintendent who was on duty at Hillsborough has said it was a "mistake" to replace an experienced match commander just weeks before the disaster. |
Ch Supt David Duckenfield replaced Ch Supt Brian Mole as match commander for the 1989 FA Cup semi-final. | Ch Supt David Duckenfield replaced Ch Supt Brian Mole as match commander for the 1989 FA Cup semi-final. |
Roger Marshall told the new inquests into the disaster that "in hindsight" the move had been a mistake. | Roger Marshall told the new inquests into the disaster that "in hindsight" the move had been a mistake. |
Ninety-six fans died following a crush at the Sheffield Wednesday stadium. | Ninety-six fans died following a crush at the Sheffield Wednesday stadium. |
Retired officer Mr Marshall said the command team at the match should have put measures in place to deal with fans who entered the ground through exit gates. | Retired officer Mr Marshall said the command team at the match should have put measures in place to deal with fans who entered the ground through exit gates. |
'Benefit of hindsight' | 'Benefit of hindsight' |
However, the court heard the former South Yorkshire Police superintendent believes a minority of fans bear some responsibility for what happened on 15 April 1989, the day of the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. | However, the court heard the former South Yorkshire Police superintendent believes a minority of fans bear some responsibility for what happened on 15 April 1989, the day of the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. |
He also agreed he had "never seen any such responsibility accepted by them". | He also agreed he had "never seen any such responsibility accepted by them". |
Giving evidence for a fourth day, Mr Marshall was asked about how Ch Supt Brian Mole, who had been head of South Yorkshire Police's F Division and match commander at Hillsborough, was replaced by Ch Supt David Duckenfield towards the end of March 1989. | Giving evidence for a fourth day, Mr Marshall was asked about how Ch Supt Brian Mole, who had been head of South Yorkshire Police's F Division and match commander at Hillsborough, was replaced by Ch Supt David Duckenfield towards the end of March 1989. |
Paul Greaney QC, who represents junior officers in the Police Federation, asked: "With the benefit of hindsight, do you agree that the decision to move him and replace him with Mr Duckenfield so close to the date of the semi-final was a mistake?" | Paul Greaney QC, who represents junior officers in the Police Federation, asked: "With the benefit of hindsight, do you agree that the decision to move him and replace him with Mr Duckenfield so close to the date of the semi-final was a mistake?" |
Mr Marshall, who worked under Mr Duckenfield on the day of the match, replied: "In hindsight, yes." | Mr Marshall, who worked under Mr Duckenfield on the day of the match, replied: "In hindsight, yes." |
Mr Marshall's duty on the day of the disaster was to oversee how Liverpool supporters approached the stadium. The jury has heard how a large crush of fans developed outside the ground before kick-off. | Mr Marshall's duty on the day of the disaster was to oversee how Liverpool supporters approached the stadium. The jury has heard how a large crush of fans developed outside the ground before kick-off. |
He made three requests to match command for exit gates at the ground to be opened to relieve the pressure outside. | He made three requests to match command for exit gates at the ground to be opened to relieve the pressure outside. |
The first request was made at 14:47 BST, 13 minutes before the match was due to kick off, and the order for the gates to be opened was given by Mr Duckenfield at 14:52. | The first request was made at 14:47 BST, 13 minutes before the match was due to kick off, and the order for the gates to be opened was given by Mr Duckenfield at 14:52. |
He was asked about how the senior officers in the police control box, including Mr Duckenfield and Supt Bernard Murray, should have responded to his requests. | He was asked about how the senior officers in the police control box, including Mr Duckenfield and Supt Bernard Murray, should have responded to his requests. |
Mr Greaney asked: "Is it obvious to you now that someone needed to give that situation some thought and make a decision about how it was to be managed?" | Mr Greaney asked: "Is it obvious to you now that someone needed to give that situation some thought and make a decision about how it was to be managed?" |
Mr Marshall replied: "Yes." | Mr Marshall replied: "Yes." |
Mr Greaney continued: "Do you agree that they had time to put measures in place to deal with the consequences of the order that they gave?" | Mr Greaney continued: "Do you agree that they had time to put measures in place to deal with the consequences of the order that they gave?" |
"Yes." | "Yes." |
Mr Greaney then asked: "Are you prepared to accept that Mr Duckenfield and Mr Murray should have put measures in place in that time they had available?" | Mr Greaney then asked: "Are you prepared to accept that Mr Duckenfield and Mr Murray should have put measures in place in that time they had available?" |
"Yes," Mr Marshall said. | "Yes," Mr Marshall said. |
However, the retired officer said he was reluctant to criticise Mr Duckenfield and Mr Murray, and agreed that was because he and the other senior officers on duty "bore a collective responsibility for the events on the day of the disaster". | However, the retired officer said he was reluctant to criticise Mr Duckenfield and Mr Murray, and agreed that was because he and the other senior officers on duty "bore a collective responsibility for the events on the day of the disaster". |
'Profound regret' | 'Profound regret' |
Mr Marshall was later questioned by his own barrister, John Beggs QC, who said a significant minority of Liverpool fans outside the ground in Leppings Lane bore some responsibility for what happened. | Mr Marshall was later questioned by his own barrister, John Beggs QC, who said a significant minority of Liverpool fans outside the ground in Leppings Lane bore some responsibility for what happened. |
Mr Marshall agreed that fans turned up later to the 1989 semi-final than they had to the same match the previous year, when Liverpool had also played Nottingham Forest. | Mr Marshall agreed that fans turned up later to the 1989 semi-final than they had to the same match the previous year, when Liverpool had also played Nottingham Forest. |
He also agreed some had been drinking enough to lose their inhibitions, and that fans without tickets blocked the flow of the turnstiles. | He also agreed some had been drinking enough to lose their inhibitions, and that fans without tickets blocked the flow of the turnstiles. |
There was also pushing and shoving in the crowd, despite there being space behind the fans at the back, he said. | There was also pushing and shoving in the crowd, despite there being space behind the fans at the back, he said. |
Mr Beggs told the court his client had expressed his "profound regret" for not calling for the kick-off to be delayed and for not asking for a "reception committee" to meet the fans who came in through an exit gate. | Mr Beggs told the court his client had expressed his "profound regret" for not calling for the kick-off to be delayed and for not asking for a "reception committee" to meet the fans who came in through an exit gate. |
The barrister then said: "Isn't this the case, that all that you ask is that everyone who contributed to that most terrible tragedy in April 1989 should accept a measure of responsibility?" | The barrister then said: "Isn't this the case, that all that you ask is that everyone who contributed to that most terrible tragedy in April 1989 should accept a measure of responsibility?" |
Quoting Mr Marshall's earlier evidence, Mr Beggs continued: "Some of the Liverpool fans have a responsibility for what occurred and for the situation that arose. That's what you said - you stand by that don't you?" | Quoting Mr Marshall's earlier evidence, Mr Beggs continued: "Some of the Liverpool fans have a responsibility for what occurred and for the situation that arose. That's what you said - you stand by that don't you?" |
Mr Marshall said: "I do sir, yes." | Mr Marshall said: "I do sir, yes." |
Mr Beggs asked: "But you have never seen any such responsibility accepted by them have you?" | Mr Beggs asked: "But you have never seen any such responsibility accepted by them have you?" |
Mr Marshall replied: "No, sir, no." | Mr Marshall replied: "No, sir, no." |
'Push back' | |
The jury also heard from two supporters who escaped from the central pens during the disaster. | |
Geoffrey Moody, a Chelsea supporter, went to the match with friends and was swept away by a crowd surge in pen three. | |
He told the hearing fans were screaming to "please open the gates", with officers replying "push back, push back, push back". | |
Mr Moody said he passed out and when he regained consciousness he was lying on the corner of the penalty area. | |
After the disaster, he found he had bruised ribs but did not require hospital treatment. | |
Stephen Boardman, who was 15 in 1989, said he went into the ground though exit gate C and escaped pen four by climbing over a fence to pen five. | |
He was later interviewed alone by two officers in his family's living room, with the written-up version counter-signed by his mother on his behalf. | |
Mr Boardman said the statement was "very biased" and "terrible". | |
The inquests, sitting in Warrington, Cheshire, continue. | The inquests, sitting in Warrington, Cheshire, continue. |
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