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Hillsborough inquests: PC felt 'intimidated' by superior | Hillsborough inquests: PC felt 'intimidated' by superior |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A former police constable said he felt "intimidated" by a senior officer into changing his Hillsborough disaster statement, the inquests have heard. | A former police constable said he felt "intimidated" by a senior officer into changing his Hillsborough disaster statement, the inquests have heard. |
Adrian Daley told the jury he was ordered to remove two parts of his account, where he wrote he had "no direction" during the 1989 tragedy. | Adrian Daley told the jury he was ordered to remove two parts of his account, where he wrote he had "no direction" during the 1989 tragedy. |
He said he was "unhappy" with the request made during a meeting with Ch Supt John Nesbit, and that he did not want to make the changes. | He said he was "unhappy" with the request made during a meeting with Ch Supt John Nesbit, and that he did not want to make the changes. |
Mr Nesbit denies the meeting happened. | Mr Nesbit denies the meeting happened. |
Ninety-six fans were fatally injured on the Leppings Lane terraces at Hillsborough on 15 April 1989, during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. | Ninety-six fans were fatally injured on the Leppings Lane terraces at Hillsborough on 15 April 1989, during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. |
'Human carnage' | 'Human carnage' |
The court heard how Mr Daley, who was 25 at the time, had entered pen three on the terrace through a tunnel and began helping casualties caught up in the crush. | The court heard how Mr Daley, who was 25 at the time, had entered pen three on the terrace through a tunnel and began helping casualties caught up in the crush. |
He described seeing a scene of "human carnage" in the pen and was hit by a "wave of shock". | He described seeing a scene of "human carnage" in the pen and was hit by a "wave of shock". |
After his first handwritten statement, Mr Daley was called to a meeting at Rawmarsh police station in Rotherham, the jury heard. | After his first handwritten statement, Mr Daley was called to a meeting at Rawmarsh police station in Rotherham, the jury heard. |
He said he was "absolutely certain" he met Ch Supt Nesbit and Det Sgt Michael Tissington. | He said he was "absolutely certain" he met Ch Supt Nesbit and Det Sgt Michael Tissington. |
He added he recognised Mr Nesbit because he saw the officer in TV news reports arresting miners' union leader Arthur Scargill at the Orgreave strike in 1984. | He added he recognised Mr Nesbit because he saw the officer in TV news reports arresting miners' union leader Arthur Scargill at the Orgreave strike in 1984. |
Recalling what Mr Nesbit said during their meeting, Mr Daley told the jury: "It was along the lines of he had got a lot more experience in these matters, policing serious incidents - this was my first one. I had never ever experienced anything like it before. | Recalling what Mr Nesbit said during their meeting, Mr Daley told the jury: "It was along the lines of he had got a lot more experience in these matters, policing serious incidents - this was my first one. I had never ever experienced anything like it before. |
"It was something along the lines of 'I know what should and shouldn't be in statements'. | "It was something along the lines of 'I know what should and shouldn't be in statements'. |
"I didn't know what to say. At the end of the day, back in 1989 the police force was a different organisation then. | "I didn't know what to say. At the end of the day, back in 1989 the police force was a different organisation then. |
"Officers from the rank of inspector, obviously we were told to respect them and do what they told you to do." | "Officers from the rank of inspector, obviously we were told to respect them and do what they told you to do." |
'No direction' references | 'No direction' references |
Mr Daley added it was a "difficult situation" and that he felt Mr Nesbit was using "intimidation". | Mr Daley added it was a "difficult situation" and that he felt Mr Nesbit was using "intimidation". |
He recalled being shown a copy of his statement with some areas underlined that were to be "taken out". | He recalled being shown a copy of his statement with some areas underlined that were to be "taken out". |
The jury heard Mr Daley was told to remove parts from two sentences. | The jury heard Mr Daley was told to remove parts from two sentences. |
In one he had written: "I then returned to assist with whatever was required and I had no personal radio and was not in contact with any supervisory officer and therefore received no direction." | In one he had written: "I then returned to assist with whatever was required and I had no personal radio and was not in contact with any supervisory officer and therefore received no direction." |
But Mr Daley said he was told to remove the words "and therefore received no direction". | But Mr Daley said he was told to remove the words "and therefore received no direction". |
In another section, Mr Daley was also asked to remove the phrase "again, no direction came as to what should be done". | In another section, Mr Daley was also asked to remove the phrase "again, no direction came as to what should be done". |
'Discrepancies' | 'Discrepancies' |
He was asked to write the statement again on new sheets of paper in a meeting of no longer than five or 10 minutes, the jury heard. | He was asked to write the statement again on new sheets of paper in a meeting of no longer than five or 10 minutes, the jury heard. |
Mr Daley said he was "unhappy" and "uncomfortable" with what he was being asked to do. | Mr Daley said he was "unhappy" and "uncomfortable" with what he was being asked to do. |
He added that changing the statement would mean there would be a "discrepancy" between his police pocket notebook and his statement. | He added that changing the statement would mean there would be a "discrepancy" between his police pocket notebook and his statement. |
"I didn't understand why. I didn't ask why. I just felt I had no choice," he said. | "I didn't understand why. I didn't ask why. I just felt I had no choice," he said. |
"I was an officer with three years' experience and there's a senior officer telling me that part of my statement needs to come out. | "I was an officer with three years' experience and there's a senior officer telling me that part of my statement needs to come out. |
"I didn't feel comfortable with it at all." | "I didn't feel comfortable with it at all." |
Superintendent denial | |
The jury heard that it was an "intimidating situation... where you've got somebody of that rank wanting me to do something that I didn't want to do, that I felt uncomfortable with". | The jury heard that it was an "intimidating situation... where you've got somebody of that rank wanting me to do something that I didn't want to do, that I felt uncomfortable with". |
Mr Daley agreed with a barrister representing bereaved families that what he was being asked to remove was "relevant" and "informative". | Mr Daley agreed with a barrister representing bereaved families that what he was being asked to remove was "relevant" and "informative". |
Jonathan Hough QC, asking questions on behalf of the coroner, said: "John Nesbit denies having been involved in a meeting of this kind and in fact denies having been at Rawmarsh station at all in the period of time we are concerned with. | Jonathan Hough QC, asking questions on behalf of the coroner, said: "John Nesbit denies having been involved in a meeting of this kind and in fact denies having been at Rawmarsh station at all in the period of time we are concerned with. |
"Both he and Mr Tissington deny being involved in that sort of exercise." | "Both he and Mr Tissington deny being involved in that sort of exercise." |
Mr Daley replied: "I'm absolutely sure. At the end of the day, why would I put myself through this if it isn't true?" | Mr Daley replied: "I'm absolutely sure. At the end of the day, why would I put myself through this if it isn't true?" |
The jury was also told that when he heard about "discrepancies" in police statements in the news in September 2012, he informed his manager at Humberside Police - where he worked at the time - that he may have been one of the officers involved. | The jury was also told that when he heard about "discrepancies" in police statements in the news in September 2012, he informed his manager at Humberside Police - where he worked at the time - that he may have been one of the officers involved. |
The inquests in Warrington, Cheshire, continue. | The inquests in Warrington, Cheshire, continue. |
Who were the 96 victims? | Who were the 96 victims? |
BBC News: Profiles of all those who died | BBC News: Profiles of all those who died |
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