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Hillsborough Inquests: Kenny Dalglish recalls 'mayhem' during disaster | Hillsborough Inquests: Kenny Dalglish recalls 'mayhem' during disaster |
(35 minutes later) | |
Former Liverpool player Kenny Dalglish has been describing the "mayhem" at Hillsborough during the disaster. | Former Liverpool player Kenny Dalglish has been describing the "mayhem" at Hillsborough during the disaster. |
"Nobody knew what was going on," he told the inquests. "There were stories coming from every angle." | "Nobody knew what was going on," he told the inquests. "There were stories coming from every angle." |
Dalglish was Liverpool's manager on the day of the April 1989 tragedy when his side met Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final. | Dalglish was Liverpool's manager on the day of the April 1989 tragedy when his side met Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final. |
Ninety-six fans were fatally injured after crushing on the terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium. | Ninety-six fans were fatally injured after crushing on the terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium. |
After the match was stopped, police asked him to make an announcement to fans, appealing for calm. | After the match was stopped, police asked him to make an announcement to fans, appealing for calm. |
Dalglish was affected deeply by the Hillsborough disaster and attended several funerals of those who died. | Dalglish was affected deeply by the Hillsborough disaster and attended several funerals of those who died. |
His evidence marks the first time he has spoken about the tragedy in a court of law. | His evidence marks the first time he has spoken about the tragedy in a court of law. |
Wearing a red Liverpool FC tie and a "96" lapel badge, Dalglish was first questioned by Christina Lambert QC, on behalf of the coroner, Lord Justice Goldring. | Wearing a red Liverpool FC tie and a "96" lapel badge, Dalglish was first questioned by Christina Lambert QC, on behalf of the coroner, Lord Justice Goldring. |
He outlined his arrival at the stadium, telling the court how his focus was on the match. | He outlined his arrival at the stadium, telling the court how his focus was on the match. |
He said at first he did not notice anything amiss on the Leppings Lane terraces, as his team were attacking the opposite end of the pitch. | He said at first he did not notice anything amiss on the Leppings Lane terraces, as his team were attacking the opposite end of the pitch. |
But he said news soon filtered through of a developing emergency, although he did not understand what the problem was or its severity. | But he said news soon filtered through of a developing emergency, although he did not understand what the problem was or its severity. |
"We knew there'd been fatalities. We weren't told what the cause was, but we knew it wasn't people fighting or hooliganism," he told the jury in Warrington. | |
Dalglish described being asked by police to speak to fans in order to "call for calm". | |
He said a microphone in the police box was not working and that he had to use a microphone in the DJ's box instead. | |
The Scot told the court he remembers the crowd applauding his statement, "so obviously they heard the message". | |
The 63-year-old was then questioned by John Beggs QC, who represents the retired Hillsborough match commanders. | |
Mr Beggs showed the jury a copy an excerpt from Dalglish's autobiography, My Liverpool Home. | |
He asked him about a paragraph which talks about Liverpool fans "bunking in" to Wembley without tickets for the 1986 FA Cup final between Liverpool and Everton. | |
Mr Beggs also quoted a Home Office report about that match, describing attempts by ticketless fans to enter the stadium as "troubling". | |
Dalglish replied: "I'm just a normal human being. Not judge and jury on how people should behave." | |
Known as King Kenny, Dalglish excelled as player in the 1980s and was made manager in 1985. | Known as King Kenny, Dalglish excelled as player in the 1980s and was made manager in 1985. |
Liverpool won three league titles and two FA Cups under him before he resigned in 1991 on health grounds. | Liverpool won three league titles and two FA Cups under him before he resigned in 1991 on health grounds. |
He is one of the most high-profile witnesses to give evidence at the inquests, which started in March with personal portraits of each of the 96 victims being read to the court. | He is one of the most high-profile witnesses to give evidence at the inquests, which started in March with personal portraits of each of the 96 victims being read to the court. |