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How the Sun's 'truth' about Hillsborough unravelled How the Sun's 'truth' about Hillsborough unravelled
(4 months later)
A landmark moment of the long Hillsborough inquests came six months in, when a police officer who had spread stories that Liverpool supporters had stolen from victims, notoriously published by the Sun under the headline The Truth, admitted they were false.A landmark moment of the long Hillsborough inquests came six months in, when a police officer who had spread stories that Liverpool supporters had stolen from victims, notoriously published by the Sun under the headline The Truth, admitted they were false.
Related: Hillsborough disaster: deadly mistakes and lies that lasted decades
Gordon Sykes, a South Yorkshire police inspector on duty at the Leppings Lane end on the day of the disaster, had never previously retracted the allegation that supporters picked the pockets of dead people. When first questioned at the inquests, Sykes maintained that what he had said in an official Police Federation meeting on 19 April 1989, the day the Sun published its stories, was true: that he had been responsible for 10 dead bodies and “the bodies had nothing on them at all, not even a handkerchief”.Gordon Sykes, a South Yorkshire police inspector on duty at the Leppings Lane end on the day of the disaster, had never previously retracted the allegation that supporters picked the pockets of dead people. When first questioned at the inquests, Sykes maintained that what he had said in an official Police Federation meeting on 19 April 1989, the day the Sun published its stories, was true: that he had been responsible for 10 dead bodies and “the bodies had nothing on them at all, not even a handkerchief”.
In that meeting, which was attended by the then South Yorkshire police chief constable, Peter Wright, Sykes also spoke to confirm another infamous allegation, that one of the people who died at Hillsborough had “numerous wallets” on him, so was “one of the Liverpool pickpockets”.In that meeting, which was attended by the then South Yorkshire police chief constable, Peter Wright, Sykes also spoke to confirm another infamous allegation, that one of the people who died at Hillsborough had “numerous wallets” on him, so was “one of the Liverpool pickpockets”.
On Tuesday, the jury at the new inquests into the deaths exonerated fans by ruling they did not contribute to the disaster at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. Jurors also decided the 96 victims had been unlawfully killed.On Tuesday, the jury at the new inquests into the deaths exonerated fans by ruling they did not contribute to the disaster at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. Jurors also decided the 96 victims had been unlawfully killed.
The minutes of the 19 April Police Federation meeting, which the bereaved families were unaware of for 23 years, were published as part of the Hillsborough Independent Panel disclosure process in 2012. Sykes’s appearance in the witness box at the inquests on 10 October 2014 was the first time he had been questioned publicly on his spreading of those claims.The minutes of the 19 April Police Federation meeting, which the bereaved families were unaware of for 23 years, were published as part of the Hillsborough Independent Panel disclosure process in 2012. Sykes’s appearance in the witness box at the inquests on 10 October 2014 was the first time he had been questioned publicly on his spreading of those claims.
When challenged by Michael Mansfield QC, representing 77 families whose relatives died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terrace, Sykes accepted a police log from the night of the disaster showed none of the 10 bodies he was referring to had been stripped of possessions.When challenged by Michael Mansfield QC, representing 77 families whose relatives died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terrace, Sykes accepted a police log from the night of the disaster showed none of the 10 bodies he was referring to had been stripped of possessions.
During Sykes’s evidence, it became clear not only that these stories were untrue, but that South Yorkshire police had the evidence all along that this was the case and yet had encouraged the stories and never corrected them. As a routine practice, its officers compiled lists of any money or other items found on people who had died. Mark George QC, representing 22 families, told Sykes that research of all the property logs showed nobody had “multiple wallets”. One person had a wallet and a separate small holder for his bank card. These deeply damaging stories, which had been maintained for a quarter of a century, crumbled in moments.During Sykes’s evidence, it became clear not only that these stories were untrue, but that South Yorkshire police had the evidence all along that this was the case and yet had encouraged the stories and never corrected them. As a routine practice, its officers compiled lists of any money or other items found on people who had died. Mark George QC, representing 22 families, told Sykes that research of all the property logs showed nobody had “multiple wallets”. One person had a wallet and a separate small holder for his bank card. These deeply damaging stories, which had been maintained for a quarter of a century, crumbled in moments.
Mansfield told Sykes the story was “a long-term allegation” that had been “remembered by generations of people”. Sykes said he had not known before that day that the stories were false. He said he had only repeated internally what other officers had told him and maintained he was not a source for their publication by the Sun.Mansfield told Sykes the story was “a long-term allegation” that had been “remembered by generations of people”. Sykes said he had not known before that day that the stories were false. He said he had only repeated internally what other officers had told him and maintained he was not a source for their publication by the Sun.
Asked by Mansfield “as a matter of conscience” whether he would say he regretted maintaining those false stories, Sykes, in a courtroom full of families whose relatives died, said: “Yes, I regret that.”Asked by Mansfield “as a matter of conscience” whether he would say he regretted maintaining those false stories, Sykes, in a courtroom full of families whose relatives died, said: “Yes, I regret that.”
Sykes agreed that the allegation of “pilfering” attracted the Sun, whose front-page story on Hillsborough on 19 April 1989 remains a notorious low point of British journalism.Sykes agreed that the allegation of “pilfering” attracted the Sun, whose front-page story on Hillsborough on 19 April 1989 remains a notorious low point of British journalism.
The newspaper, edited at the time by Kelvin MacKenzie, who was personally responsible for the headline The Truth, ran claims from anonymous police officers that, as people were dying at Hillsborough, their fellow supporters stole from them, urinated on police officers and beat up “brave cops” trying to help. The stories were initially defended by the paper as vital reporting of the truth, but it emerged in 2012 that they were sent by a Sheffield news agency, White’s, and run by the Sun almost verbatim.The newspaper, edited at the time by Kelvin MacKenzie, who was personally responsible for the headline The Truth, ran claims from anonymous police officers that, as people were dying at Hillsborough, their fellow supporters stole from them, urinated on police officers and beat up “brave cops” trying to help. The stories were initially defended by the paper as vital reporting of the truth, but it emerged in 2012 that they were sent by a Sheffield news agency, White’s, and run by the Sun almost verbatim.
BBC footage of the chaos on the Hillsborough pitch, played repeatedly as evidence at the inquests, showed not a single instance of supporters attacking or urinating on policemen. The claim that supporters higher up the Leppings Lane terrace had urinated on police pulling bodies out of the crush appeared to have roots in the fact that those who were dying or sustaining serious injuries suffered compression asphyxia and many involuntarily urinated, vomited and emptied their bowels as they were crushed.BBC footage of the chaos on the Hillsborough pitch, played repeatedly as evidence at the inquests, showed not a single instance of supporters attacking or urinating on policemen. The claim that supporters higher up the Leppings Lane terrace had urinated on police pulling bodies out of the crush appeared to have roots in the fact that those who were dying or sustaining serious injuries suffered compression asphyxia and many involuntarily urinated, vomited and emptied their bowels as they were crushed.
The court heard and saw on film that Liverpool supporters, including doctors, nurses and police officers, came out of the crowd to help victims of the disaster, and saved lives as a result. Hundreds of supporters were seen carrying injured and dead people, using advertising hoardings as makeshift stretchers, while the response by the police and ambulance service was inadequate.The court heard and saw on film that Liverpool supporters, including doctors, nurses and police officers, came out of the crowd to help victims of the disaster, and saved lives as a result. Hundreds of supporters were seen carrying injured and dead people, using advertising hoardings as makeshift stretchers, while the response by the police and ambulance service was inadequate.
Many police officers did help greatly, but there was a lack of organisation and minimal direction from senior officers, and news footage from the time shows many officers standing around, not helping. The stories subsequently sent by White’s to the Sun and several other newspapers stated that “angry police hit back” at Liverpool fans “who hampered life-saving attempts”.Many police officers did help greatly, but there was a lack of organisation and minimal direction from senior officers, and news footage from the time shows many officers standing around, not helping. The stories subsequently sent by White’s to the Sun and several other newspapers stated that “angry police hit back” at Liverpool fans “who hampered life-saving attempts”.
Sykes admitted in his evidence that he had approached the Conservative MP Irvine Patnick in the police’s Niagara club on the night of the disaster, offering to tell him “the truth”, and that officers then told Patnick the stories of supporters “pissing on us while we were pulling the dead and injured out”, and of being kicked and punched. Sykes agreed that he knew the then prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, was arriving the following day, so the allegations would go to “the highest level”.Sykes admitted in his evidence that he had approached the Conservative MP Irvine Patnick in the police’s Niagara club on the night of the disaster, offering to tell him “the truth”, and that officers then told Patnick the stories of supporters “pissing on us while we were pulling the dead and injured out”, and of being kicked and punched. Sykes agreed that he knew the then prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, was arriving the following day, so the allegations would go to “the highest level”.
Trevor Kavanagh, the Sun’s political editor at the time, told the Guardian he was briefed by Charles Powell, Thatcher’s adviser, the following Tuesday, that South Yorkshire police officers had told Thatcher those same stories. Powell denies that such a conversation with Kavanagh took place. Sir Bernard Ingham, Thatcher’s press secretary, confirmed to the Guardian that the police told Thatcher the fans were “a tanked-up mob” and did not admit any failings of their own, but Ingham did not recall being told the more lurid stories.Trevor Kavanagh, the Sun’s political editor at the time, told the Guardian he was briefed by Charles Powell, Thatcher’s adviser, the following Tuesday, that South Yorkshire police officers had told Thatcher those same stories. Powell denies that such a conversation with Kavanagh took place. Sir Bernard Ingham, Thatcher’s press secretary, confirmed to the Guardian that the police told Thatcher the fans were “a tanked-up mob” and did not admit any failings of their own, but Ingham did not recall being told the more lurid stories.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating how the stories that found their way into the Sun were spread, as part of its investigation into whether South Yorkshire police perverted the course of justice after the disaster. Peter Moxon, of White’s news agency, and MacKenzie declined to comment.The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating how the stories that found their way into the Sun were spread, as part of its investigation into whether South Yorkshire police perverted the course of justice after the disaster. Peter Moxon, of White’s news agency, and MacKenzie declined to comment.