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15/03/2012
'Drunken Fans' Blamed For Hillsborough Tragedy
Confidential government documents have revealed a senior Merseyside police officer blamed "drunken Liverpool fans" for causing the Hillsborough disaster.
The BBC has seen leaked briefings sent to former PM Margaret Thatcher about Britain's worst sports tragedy.
The official inquiry said the disaster, in which ninety-six football fans died after a crush on overcrowded terraces during an FA Cup Semi Final in April 1989, was caused by the failure in crowd control by South Yorkshire Police.
Despite calls by the families of those who died for the release of secret government and police papers relating to the disaster, letters to and from 10 Downing Street and cabinet minutes that show what Thatcher was discussing and being told behind the scenes have been made public for the first time by BBC Radio 4's The World at One.
The Hillsborough Independent Panel, which was set up in 2009, is currently reviewing hundreds of documents relating to the tragedy, but they are not expected to be made public until later this year.
Among the papers the BBC have seen the most controversial relates to the views of some senior Merseyside Police officers contained in a letter sent to the prime minister from a member of her policy unit in Downing Street.
In the letter, the Merseyside chief constable said: "A key factor in causing the disaster was the fact that large numbers of Liverpool fans had turned up without tickets.
"This was getting lost sight of in attempts to blame the police, the football authorities, etc."
Thatcher, prime minister at the time, was informed that a senior member of the Merseyside Police directly blamed supporters: "One officer, born and bred in Liverpool, said that he was deeply ashamed to say that it was drunken Liverpool fans who had caused this disaster, just as they had caused the deaths at Heysel."
The Heysel incident mentioned happened in 1985 before the European Cup Final when rioting Liverppol fans charged Juventus fan, 39 supporters died and hundreds were injured.
The document goes on to show more of the unnamed senior officers views: "He deplored the press's morbid concentration on pictures of bodies. He was also uneasy about the way in which Anfield was being turned into a shrine."
Much more information is expected to come to light on the tragedy in the coming months leading up to the official publication.
(H)
The BBC has seen leaked briefings sent to former PM Margaret Thatcher about Britain's worst sports tragedy.
The official inquiry said the disaster, in which ninety-six football fans died after a crush on overcrowded terraces during an FA Cup Semi Final in April 1989, was caused by the failure in crowd control by South Yorkshire Police.
Despite calls by the families of those who died for the release of secret government and police papers relating to the disaster, letters to and from 10 Downing Street and cabinet minutes that show what Thatcher was discussing and being told behind the scenes have been made public for the first time by BBC Radio 4's The World at One.
The Hillsborough Independent Panel, which was set up in 2009, is currently reviewing hundreds of documents relating to the tragedy, but they are not expected to be made public until later this year.
Among the papers the BBC have seen the most controversial relates to the views of some senior Merseyside Police officers contained in a letter sent to the prime minister from a member of her policy unit in Downing Street.
In the letter, the Merseyside chief constable said: "A key factor in causing the disaster was the fact that large numbers of Liverpool fans had turned up without tickets.
"This was getting lost sight of in attempts to blame the police, the football authorities, etc."
Thatcher, prime minister at the time, was informed that a senior member of the Merseyside Police directly blamed supporters: "One officer, born and bred in Liverpool, said that he was deeply ashamed to say that it was drunken Liverpool fans who had caused this disaster, just as they had caused the deaths at Heysel."
The Heysel incident mentioned happened in 1985 before the European Cup Final when rioting Liverppol fans charged Juventus fan, 39 supporters died and hundreds were injured.
The document goes on to show more of the unnamed senior officers views: "He deplored the press's morbid concentration on pictures of bodies. He was also uneasy about the way in which Anfield was being turned into a shrine."
Much more information is expected to come to light on the tragedy in the coming months leading up to the official publication.
(H)
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19 December 2012
New Police Inquiry Into Hillsborough Disaster To Launch
The Home Secretary has announced a new police inquiry into the Hillsborough disaster, as the Attorney General urged the High Court to quash the inquest verdicts on the 96 victims. The new investigation will be headed by former Durham Chief Constable Jon Stoddart and will re-examine what happened in 1989.
New Police Inquiry Into Hillsborough Disaster To Launch
The Home Secretary has announced a new police inquiry into the Hillsborough disaster, as the Attorney General urged the High Court to quash the inquest verdicts on the 96 victims. The new investigation will be headed by former Durham Chief Constable Jon Stoddart and will re-examine what happened in 1989.
09 January 2015
British Man Killed In Costa Rica Catamaran Disaster
Three people have died after a boat capsized in Costa Rica. An 80-year-old British man, a Canadian and an American woman were killed. The boat was carrying 98 passengers and 10 crew members. 101 people were saved by rescuers, however they are still searching for two people.
British Man Killed In Costa Rica Catamaran Disaster
Three people have died after a boat capsized in Costa Rica. An 80-year-old British man, a Canadian and an American woman were killed. The boat was carrying 98 passengers and 10 crew members. 101 people were saved by rescuers, however they are still searching for two people.
13 February 2013
Coroner Announced For Hillsborough Inquest
Lord Justice Goldring has been announced as the coroner to oversee the new inquests into the Hillsborough disaster. Fresh inquests are to be held into Britain’s worst sporting disaster, in which 96 football fans were crushed to death at a 1989 FA Cup semi-final on the steel-fenced terraces of Sheffield Wednesday’s home stadium.
Coroner Announced For Hillsborough Inquest
Lord Justice Goldring has been announced as the coroner to oversee the new inquests into the Hillsborough disaster. Fresh inquests are to be held into Britain’s worst sporting disaster, in which 96 football fans were crushed to death at a 1989 FA Cup semi-final on the steel-fenced terraces of Sheffield Wednesday’s home stadium.
17 June 2004
Eleven England fans deported following Monday riot
A Portuguese judge has sentenced a 46-year-old England football fan to two years in prison for his part in a riot in the Algarve. Gary Mann, from Faversham in Kent, will be deported to serve the custodial sentence in an English jail. Ten other English fans arrested will also face deportation. One further England supporter was found not guilty.
Eleven England fans deported following Monday riot
A Portuguese judge has sentenced a 46-year-old England football fan to two years in prison for his part in a riot in the Algarve. Gary Mann, from Faversham in Kent, will be deported to serve the custodial sentence in an English jail. Ten other English fans arrested will also face deportation. One further England supporter was found not guilty.
03 August 2006
Rugby star arrested following fight
England rugby player Olly Barkley has been arrested by police using CS spray following a fight in which a man suffered a broken jaw. The 24-year-old fly half, who also plays for Bath, was arrested by Devon and Cornwall Police in Newquay on Sunday night. A 19-year-old student from Cardiff and a 23-year-old man from Wadebridge were also arrested.
Rugby star arrested following fight
England rugby player Olly Barkley has been arrested by police using CS spray following a fight in which a man suffered a broken jaw. The 24-year-old fly half, who also plays for Bath, was arrested by Devon and Cornwall Police in Newquay on Sunday night. A 19-year-old student from Cardiff and a 23-year-old man from Wadebridge were also arrested.
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