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| Hillsborough disaster inquest: Official capacity numbers for the fatal stand were 'substantially too high' | Hillsborough disaster inquest: Official capacity numbers for the fatal stand were 'substantially too high' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The official capacity for the terrace where 96 Liverpool football fans were crushed to death “was substantially too high”, an inquest heard today. | The official capacity for the terrace where 96 Liverpool football fans were crushed to death “was substantially too high”, an inquest heard today. |
| A jury investigating the deaths at Britain’s worst sporting disaster was also told it should consider whether it had been a “sensible decision” by South Yorkshire Police to replace the previous match day commander who had a “wealth of experience” with a senior officer who had never managed a game at the Hillsborough ground before. | A jury investigating the deaths at Britain’s worst sporting disaster was also told it should consider whether it had been a “sensible decision” by South Yorkshire Police to replace the previous match day commander who had a “wealth of experience” with a senior officer who had never managed a game at the Hillsborough ground before. |
| Coroner Lord justice Goldring said it was the panel’s task to decide whether opportunities which could have saved the lives of fans were missed by the authorities as well as to uncover the underlying factors that led to the tragedy. | Coroner Lord justice Goldring said it was the panel’s task to decide whether opportunities which could have saved the lives of fans were missed by the authorities as well as to uncover the underlying factors that led to the tragedy. |
| It took six and a half minutes for counsel to the inquiry to read through all the names of the Hillsborough victims on the first day of evidence at the new inquiries into the 1989 crush. | It took six and a half minutes for counsel to the inquiry to read through all the names of the Hillsborough victims on the first day of evidence at the new inquiries into the 1989 crush. |
| More than a third of those who died at the start of the FA Cup semifinal between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest were teenagers, with the youngest victim aged just 10. | More than a third of those who died at the start of the FA Cup semifinal between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest were teenagers, with the youngest victim aged just 10. |
| In his opening statement to the inquests, which was ordered after the original accidental deaths verdicts were quashed by the High Court following new evidence, Lord Justice Goldring said it was the jury’s job to ensure that “culpable and discreditable conduct is exposed and brought to public notice”. | In his opening statement to the inquests, which was ordered after the original accidental deaths verdicts were quashed by the High Court following new evidence, Lord Justice Goldring said it was the jury’s job to ensure that “culpable and discreditable conduct is exposed and brought to public notice”. |
| Relatives of those who died in the Hillsborough disaster arrive at a specially commissioned Coroner's Court in Warrington (Getty) Outlining the facts of the case, the judge said it would be shown that the capacity standing figure written into the ground’s safety certificate for the Leppings Lane end where the deaths occurred was 10,100. The expert evidence would be that this figure was “substantially too high,” Lord Justice Goldring said. | Relatives of those who died in the Hillsborough disaster arrive at a specially commissioned Coroner's Court in Warrington (Getty) Outlining the facts of the case, the judge said it would be shown that the capacity standing figure written into the ground’s safety certificate for the Leppings Lane end where the deaths occurred was 10,100. The expert evidence would be that this figure was “substantially too high,” Lord Justice Goldring said. |
| The jury was shown photographs of the terraced area where the Liverpool fans were sent which was divided into a number of pens by radial fences and separated from the pitch by a high anti-hooligan fence. | The jury was shown photographs of the terraced area where the Liverpool fans were sent which was divided into a number of pens by radial fences and separated from the pitch by a high anti-hooligan fence. |
| The judge said the jury of seven women and four men would have to consider whether the gates which allowed fans to move along the terrace were obvious to visiting supporters arriving at an unfamiliar ground. | The judge said the jury of seven women and four men would have to consider whether the gates which allowed fans to move along the terrace were obvious to visiting supporters arriving at an unfamiliar ground. |
| He also described a decision to remove one of the crush barriers from the terrace end - a modification suggested by South Yorkshire Police – which affected the way that the crush developed. “You will have to decide whether barrier 144 should have been removed,” he said. | He also described a decision to remove one of the crush barriers from the terrace end - a modification suggested by South Yorkshire Police – which affected the way that the crush developed. “You will have to decide whether barrier 144 should have been removed,” he said. |
| The jury was told there had been previous incidences at the ground. In 1981, 38 people were taken to hospital following an FA Cup match between Wolves and Tottenham. The radial fences were put in place in the wake of the injuries although the safety certificate was never changed to acknowledge the new capacity. | The jury was told there had been previous incidences at the ground. In 1981, 38 people were taken to hospital following an FA Cup match between Wolves and Tottenham. The radial fences were put in place in the wake of the injuries although the safety certificate was never changed to acknowledge the new capacity. |
| Officials, meanwhile, had no way of counting who was going into the central pens. | Officials, meanwhile, had no way of counting who was going into the central pens. |
| The kick off of a 1987 clash between Coventry and Leeds had had to be delayed because of police searches whilst witnesses described “oppressive conditions” in the buildup to the game. | The kick off of a 1987 clash between Coventry and Leeds had had to be delayed because of police searches whilst witnesses described “oppressive conditions” in the buildup to the game. |
| Ronnie Gilhooley, whose 10-year-old son Jon-Paul Gilhooley, cousin of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, died in the Hillsborough disaster (Getty) When Liverpool and Nottingham Forest met in the 1988 FA Cup semifinal there were also reports of “pressure and crushing”, the inquest heard. | |
| “At least some senior personnel in South Yorkshire Police, the club and the FA appear to have regarded the match as a success,” he said. The judge described how Liverpool FC secretary Peter Robinson wrote to the FA when it had been mooted that the 1989 tie between the clubs should be replayed at Hillsborough. | “At least some senior personnel in South Yorkshire Police, the club and the FA appear to have regarded the match as a success,” he said. The judge described how Liverpool FC secretary Peter Robinson wrote to the FA when it had been mooted that the 1989 tie between the clubs should be replayed at Hillsborough. |
| Mr Robinson pointed out that Liverpool fans were allocated 24,000 seats including only 10,100 cheap standing seats. Nottingham Forest by contrast were given an allocation of 30,000 tickets including 21,000 at the larger Spion Kop end. | Mr Robinson pointed out that Liverpool fans were allocated 24,000 seats including only 10,100 cheap standing seats. Nottingham Forest by contrast were given an allocation of 30,000 tickets including 21,000 at the larger Spion Kop end. |
| Mr Robinson urged the authorities to reverse the arrangements although this was rejected. The inquest heard that previous match day commander Chief Superintendent Brian Mole, who had a “wealth of experience” was replaced by Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield when he was promoted to head the force’s F division less than three weeks before the match. | Mr Robinson urged the authorities to reverse the arrangements although this was rejected. The inquest heard that previous match day commander Chief Superintendent Brian Mole, who had a “wealth of experience” was replaced by Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield when he was promoted to head the force’s F division less than three weeks before the match. |
| Although he was experienced as a criminal investigator he had never commanded a match at Hillsborough before. “Whether this was a sensible decision may be something for you to consider,” the judge told the jury. | Although he was experienced as a criminal investigator he had never commanded a match at Hillsborough before. “Whether this was a sensible decision may be something for you to consider,” the judge told the jury. |
| On the day of the game attended by 54,000 fans there were 810 officers on duty at the ground – 19 per cent less than the previous year but still a “very substantial” figure, the judge said. 38 per cent of the force’s available officers had been involved in the match day planning and execution, it was added. | On the day of the game attended by 54,000 fans there were 810 officers on duty at the ground – 19 per cent less than the previous year but still a “very substantial” figure, the judge said. 38 per cent of the force’s available officers had been involved in the match day planning and execution, it was added. |
| There were also 376 stewards and gate attendants – most of whom had received some training from the club as well as being given “some limited briefings” by police superintendents before the game. | There were also 376 stewards and gate attendants – most of whom had received some training from the club as well as being given “some limited briefings” by police superintendents before the game. |
| The inquests, which are due to last for a year, continue. | The inquests, which are due to last for a year, continue. |