Underneath the buffoonery, Duffield loved cycling with the eternal passion of the amateur, so much so that in 2000, when Chris Boardman concluded his career with an hour record (the distance cycled in one hour) set under new rules, Duffield made a point of walking out of his commentary box as the start gun fired to express his disapproval at the way the rules had been changed. He is known for Granada Reports (1992) and BBC News 8pm Summary (2007). Something I'm not very proud of. His actions on 15 April 1989 are now the subject of a criminal inquiry seeing Mr Duckenfield face charges of manslaughter by gross negligence of 95 men, women and children. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Why should anyone care about Hillsborough? Duckenfield responded: Sir, I was not outside the turnstiles, but I am not in a position to dispute his view.. That cowardly deceit set the tone for everything that followed. He will now be able to resume his life in retirement on the south coast. He acknowledged that even after he said he realised, at 3:04pm on the day, that he was facing a medical emergency not an incident of disorder, he called for police dogs to come to the ground, not ambulances. At. The pair would introduce the riders at the start and keep crowds informed as the race unfolded at the Milk Race from a car along the route before talking in the finish. The cycling commentator David Duffield, who has died aged 84, spanned many fields in his chosen sport: as tricycle record-breaker, small-wheel cycle trailblazer, race announcer and marketing man. I blame cops for not questioning their own training more than anything else I could question them for. If things go wrong it is important that investigations explain why and ensure the situation never occurs again. It was a catastrophic and deadly error. The gaffer failed to do something or made the wrong decision. "We, the families, have fought for 30 years valiantly.". Thousands of fans, friends and relatives attended the service at Liverpool's Anfield Stadium to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy. All the defendants, except Duckenfield, who has not yet been formally charged, will appear at Warrington Magistrates' Court on August 8. Cloudflare Ray ID: 78b9c095693fe1ea The acquittal was not a shock. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Former South Yorkshire Police Chief Superintendent promoted just 19 days before disaster, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. No criminal charges were recommended over police blunders of the first magnitude listed in the final report, which resulted in sweeping changes to football stadiums across the UK including the abolishment of standing terraces. The latest breaking news, comment and features from The Independent. In that capacity, he led the 2015 U.S. Delegation to APEC Senior Officials Meeting on city development and urbanization in Cebu, Philippines, and was the department liaison with U.S. mayors and governors at the 2015 U.S. China Leaders Climate Summit in Los Angeles and at the 2015 COP21 Global Climate Summit in Paris, France. It has dashed their hopes repeatedly over the years. Oh the irony a genuine conspiracy and Manc33 can't see it. Duckenfield said he had watched a video about the disaster, including footage of a mother having to cuddle her dead child on the dirty floor of the Hillsborough gymnasium, which the police used as a mortuary that day. David A. Duckenfield is the President and a partner at Balsera Communications, where he focuses on new business development, strategic management of client accounts and day-to-day management of the firm. Debate about Hillsborough should not be about football or the city of Liverpool; this is a matter of civic safety that has implications for everyone in British society. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) revealed its intentions at a meeting with victims' relatives. The content in this collection is provided for research, educational and information purposes (at present no content is available for viewing). There were shouts in the room as it was announced. I seem to remember an accident where experienced rail workmen got run over by a works carriage rolling downhill. One called out in court I dont want your apology and several walked out. The new inquest concluded in April last year, finding that 96 Liverpool fans were unlawfully killed and exonerated the victims of any wrongdoing. Help Scout provides your team with a scalable help desk, while keeping the customer experience simple and . The 96th victim, Tony Bland, was critically injured in the crush and died in 1993 after life support was lawfully withdrawn. David Duckenfield denies the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 fans David Duckenfield would have been able to handle the match commander role at Hillsborough if he had prepared "fully and. He was asked whether he thought over the last 26 years about the bereaved families, who according to their barrister, Rajiv Menon QC waged a courageous and unrelenting campaign that culminated in 2012 with the quashing of the first inquests. The original 1991 inquest verdict of accidental death was quashed 21 years later after a long campaign by bereaved families. Sue Hemming, the CPS director of legal services, said: The disaster at Hillsborough 30 years ago has caused unimaginable suffering to the families of those who sadly lost their lives and to everybody affected by the tragic events of that day. Given all the covering up and lying that has gone on, together with all the pain caused by the media (and The Sun in particular) misreporting the whole affair, I suppose the question is : Should Duckenfield be used as a scapegoat or 'lightening conductor' for everything that has gone on? Log in or register to join the conversation. After beginning working life at White Advertising in Birmingham, he was conscripted rising to the rank of sergeant in the army but more importantly was introduced to cycling by a fellow soldier. Even while the dead and dying were lying on the pitch, barely attended to by the emergency services, Duckenfield was throwing the blame and trying to avoid the responsibility for a decision that caused the carnage. The defendant's conduct must fall so far below the standard to be expected of a reasonably competent and careful person in the defendant's position, that it was something truly, exceptionally bad. Family members react after the families of the 96 Hillsborough victims were told the decision that the Crown Prosecution Service will proceed with criminal charges and six people have been charged with criminal offences, including Ex-Ch Supt David Duckenfield and Sir Norman Bettison on June 28, 2017 in Warrington, England. I suspect, however, that the lynch mob is working on their noose tying as I type. Assistant Commissioner Rob Beckley, who was in overall command of Operation Resolve - the criminal inquiry into the disaster, acknowledged the jury "had a difficult and challenging task". ", "It is important to remember that criminal proceedings have a very different purpose to an inquest.". He is among six individuals facing prosecution over the disaster. No one should have to suffer the emotional damage that comes with such a burden. Sir, it is now that I have thought very seriously about the families, Duckenfield said, explaining that the video was the most moving thing he had ever seen, and that it had shown him what it means to a mother to lose a loved one. The cycling commentator David Duffield, who has died aged 84, spanned many fields in his chosen sport: as tricycle record-breaker, small-wheel cycle trailblazer, race announcer and marketing. The prosecution case, Matthews said, is that as the senior officer in command, Duckenfield bore personal responsibility for the failings, in the face of what was both a serious and obvious risk of death. Reaction as David Duckenfield is cleared of manslaughter, argued the case against him was "deeply unfair", German police deny Greta's detainment was staged, Germany: We are no longer reliant on Russian energy, Jeremy Renner TV show poster edited after accident, US porn star declared unfit for sex crimes trial, Keep cake away from office, says food adviser, Maximum two drinks a week, Canada guidance advises, President's sons fall out over sale of a plane. Because any time you or your loved ones attend a public event it should be with the knowledge that the people responsible for maintaining order and safety will be competent. Allen told the inquests last week that he had policed hundreds of football matches and attended thousands as a Liverpool fan. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield, now 74, denied the charges against him in connection with the deaths of 95 people at the 1989 tragedy. Duckenfield had told them "an untruth", he said. Norman Bettison, a former officer with South Yorkshire Police and subsequently Chief Constable of Merseyside and West Yorkshire Police - who faces four offences of misconduct in a public office over alleged lies in accounts of his involvement in the 1989 disaster. Road David Duffield dies aged 84 - News Shorts By Cycling News published 22 February 2016 Castroviejo fractures vertebrae, Oli Cookson joins Dimension Data, Roglic surprises LottoNL-Jumbo at. Due to the law at the time, there can be no prosecution over the death of the 96th victim, Tony Bland. 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Duckenfield then gave the order to open the gates. Matthews told the jury at Preston crown court that at 2.52pm Duckenfield had ordered gate C, a large exit gate, to be opened to relieve a crush of people with tickets to support Liverpool that had built up at the 23 Leppings Lane turnstiles. Barry Devonside, whose son Christopher, 18, died in the disaster, said: "I'm shocked and stunned by the verdict of the jury. Duckenfield admitted at the 2014-16 inquests into the disaster, Matthews said, that he was responsible for a serious failure when he did not take steps to close a tunnel inside the Leppings Lane concourse, which led to the crowded central pens of the terrace. David Duckenfield was police match commander at the Hillsborough disaster; He went on trial for gross negligence manslaughter over the deaths of fans; Following a retrial, he was cleared today . Duckenfield, 74, faced the charge of gross negligence manslaughter of . the sport or activity of riding a bicycle. David is a member of the New York based Council on Foreign Relations and a member of the Andover Alumni Council. Timeline of the Hillsborough stadium disaster. Go to. He admitted that until his evidence this week at these new inquests, he had not confessed to the series of mistakes he has now admitted. Tony Bland, the 96th fatality, remained on life support for four years. The acquittal of David Duckenfield is the latest twist in the history of a disaster which has lasted 30 years. Mr Duckenfield has been a key focus of repeated investigations and inquiries into the Hillsborough disaster, as survivors and families of the victims fought a gruelling 28-year battle for justice. Jimmy Hennessey, a 29-year-old, had negligible medical attention and was placed in a body bag while still alive. More than 28 years after their deaths, families of the victims gathered to hear the result of their long campaign in Warrington. Mr Duckenfield's wife, Ann, went over to comfort her husband in the courtroom after the verdict was read out. Duckenfield then lied and told FA executives that fans had broken in to the stadium. The man who caused so much pain has escaped the consequences. The move allegedly led to the fatal crush on the Leppings Lane terrace, as spectators were trapped against metal fences behind the goal. A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the verdict did not affect the findings of the Hillsborough inquests, which ruled the victims had been unlawfully killed. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Duckenfield declined. All this had been comprehensively dismissed at the inquests. MX23RW : Wednesday, December 14 09:45:52| >> :120:10270:10270: France vs . I am now very much older, very much wiser and very much more understanding of the events of the day and have decided to tell the whole truth, Duckenfield said. In order to prosecute Mr Duckenfield, now 72, prosecutors will apply to have a stay imposed by a judge after a private prosecution over the Hillsborough disaster in 1999 removed. Not sure because he was put in an impossible situation. why was a man with so obviously little crowd control experience given this role? The seven women and three men. 'If there's truth in this, that is shocking and we have to deal with it' The not guilty verdict today does not affect or alter the inquest jurys findings of unlawful killing or their conclusion that Liverpool fans were in no way responsible for the 96 deaths that resulted., Hillsborough victims: the 96 people whose lives were cut short, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Liverpool FC said it shared "the reactions and frustrations by the families today and those affected by the Hillsborough tragedy". JMW Solicitors LLP 1 BYROM PLACE SPINNINGFIELDS MANCHESTER. 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