Five men charged over Hillsborough disaster bailed after court appearance
Wednesday 9 August 2017 15:02, UK
Five men have appeared in court over allegations related to the Hillsborough disaster and its aftermath.
A group of families whose relatives were killed during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on April 15, 1989, were at Warrington Magistrates Court on Wednesday to attend the first hearing.
Former Merseyside and West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison, ex South Yorkshire Police officers Donald Denton and Alan Foster, former force solicitor Peter Metcalf and Graham Henry Mackrell, Sheffield Wednesday Football Club's company secretary and safety officer at the time of the tragedy, all appeared.
Sir Norman Bettison is charged with four offences of misconduct in public office relating to alleged lies about his involvement in the aftermath of the tragedy and the culpability of fans.
Former Chief Superintendent Denton and ex-Detective Chief Inspector Foster are charged with perverting the course of justice relating to material changes made to witness statements.
Metcalf, the solicitor who acted for South Yorkshire Police during the Taylor Inquiry and the first inquests, is also charged with doing acts with intent to pervert the course of public justice in relation to witness statements.
And Mackrell is charged with two offences under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 and one offence under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
The men appeared separately in the dock and spoke briefly only to confirm their personal details as the charges were read out against them.
The only individual not listed to appear in court was David Duckenfield, the match commander on the day of the tragedy, who faces 95 counts of manslaughter by gross negligence.
The Crown Prosecution Service needs to lift a legal order imposed by a senior judge at the end of a private prosecution against him before it can proceed with new charges.
The appearances follow a decision on June 28 by the Crown Prosecution Service to bring charges against the individuals for the part they played in the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster in which 96 Liverpool football fans died.
The five men are due to appear before Preston Crown Court on September 6.
