#Hillsborough thread
One of the great unknowns, to this day, concerns the whereabouts of Chief Supt David Duckenfield on 15 April 1989, from around late morning to 2pm. These were crucial hours, when - as match commander - he should have been leading the best part of...
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One of the great unknowns, to this day, concerns the whereabouts of Chief Supt David Duckenfield on 15 April 1989, from around late morning to 2pm. These were crucial hours, when - as match commander - he should have been leading the best part of...
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1,000 officers at the stadium.
This is a thread that considers the significance of his unexplained absence, and his explanation for not recalling his whereabouts. It’s long. Bear with me.
1,000 officers at the stadium.
This is a thread that considers the significance of his unexplained absence, and his explanation for not recalling his whereabouts. It’s long. Bear with me.
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One tactic available to Duckenfield on 15/4/89 had been used at the previous FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough: a ‘filtering’ system. This involved the processing of batches of Liverpool fans towards the turnstiles at Leppings Lane, to avoid them bunching up in the approach
One tactic available to Duckenfield on 15/4/89 had been used at the previous FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough: a ‘filtering’ system. This involved the processing of batches of Liverpool fans towards the turnstiles at Leppings Lane, to avoid them bunching up in the approach
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... which was a confined space. There weren’t many turnstiles for this end of the stadium, and they were decrepit, so they admitted fans quite slowly, leading to a backlog of people if no filtering system delivered them in stages.
... which was a confined space. There weren’t many turnstiles for this end of the stadium, and they were decrepit, so they admitted fans quite slowly, leading to a backlog of people if no filtering system delivered them in stages.
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In 1988, the police control and filter system was efficient. They’d used mounted horses like toll-booths. It was easy to follow - I saw it first-hand.
In 1988, the police control and filter system was efficient. They’d used mounted horses like toll-booths. It was easy to follow - I saw it first-hand.
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In 1989, that filter was never put in place, leading fans to approach the turnstiles freely, and a backlog/crush developed. When it did, the police panicked:
In 1989, that filter was never put in place, leading fans to approach the turnstiles freely, and a backlog/crush developed. When it did, the police panicked:
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... they opened an exit gate, allowing thousands of people into the concourse at the back of the LL terrace, in a very short space of time.
... they opened an exit gate, allowing thousands of people into the concourse at the back of the LL terrace, in a very short space of time.
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In 1988, SYP had also employed the ‘Freeman tactic’: officers were stationed on that concourse, at the mouth of the tunnel leading to the central pens, 3 and 4. In 1988, once it became clear those pens were full, the police closed the tunnel to prevent further entry to 3 and 4
In 1988, SYP had also employed the ‘Freeman tactic’: officers were stationed on that concourse, at the mouth of the tunnel leading to the central pens, 3 and 4. In 1988, once it became clear those pens were full, the police closed the tunnel to prevent further entry to 3 and 4
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In 1989, Duckenfield failed to enforce the Freeman tactic. Not a single officer was at the tunnel entrance when the exit gate was opened and 2000 fans came in, to see a sign marked STANDING above the tunnel entrance. ‘We go down here, then,’ they thought.
In 1989, Duckenfield failed to enforce the Freeman tactic. Not a single officer was at the tunnel entrance when the exit gate was opened and 2000 fans came in, to see a sign marked STANDING above the tunnel entrance. ‘We go down here, then,’ they thought.
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But by that time, pens 3 and 4 were already dangerously overcrowded. Duckenfield, positioned in the control box just above those pens, was in a position to have seen this easily. So why didn’t he?
But by that time, pens 3 and 4 were already dangerously overcrowded. Duckenfield, positioned in the control box just above those pens, was in a position to have seen this easily. So why didn’t he?
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So, no filter to prevent a crush outside the ground, no Freeman tactic to prevent fans entering the tunnel to pens 3 and 4, and no recognition of the crush developing in pens 3 and 4, just below the control box.
So, no filter to prevent a crush outside the ground, no Freeman tactic to prevent fans entering the tunnel to pens 3 and 4, and no recognition of the crush developing in pens 3 and 4, just below the control box.
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The planning meeting for this game took place in late March 1989 - where Brian Mole, Duckenfield’s predecessor, was meant to ‘hand over’ the brief for the job. There remains considerable doubt that Duckenfield attended the meeting. The minutes of the meeting no longer exist
The planning meeting for this game took place in late March 1989 - where Brian Mole, Duckenfield’s predecessor, was meant to ‘hand over’ the brief for the job. There remains considerable doubt that Duckenfield attended the meeting. The minutes of the meeting no longer exist
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So, did he prepare in advance? It’s up for debate how focused he was. Does this suggest a complacency? Roll forward to 15 April 1989 and those two ‘missing’ hours, around 12-2pm.
So, did he prepare in advance? It’s up for debate how focused he was. Does this suggest a complacency? Roll forward to 15 April 1989 and those two ‘missing’ hours, around 12-2pm.
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Other senior officers also appear to have been absent from their posts at this time: inside and outside the ground. Key moments, key absences, no police control. No leadership. Where was he, the boss? Where were his deputies?
Other senior officers also appear to have been absent from their posts at this time: inside and outside the ground. Key moments, key absences, no police control. No leadership. Where was he, the boss? Where were his deputies?
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None of these senior SYP has ever ratted on the other in court. But I’ve seen statements which indicate that senior officers within SYP knew those match commanders had failed in their duties, and that some had gone AWOL.
None of these senior SYP has ever ratted on the other in court. But I’ve seen statements which indicate that senior officers within SYP knew those match commanders had failed in their duties, and that some had gone AWOL.
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Duckenfield insisted in court at the 2014-16 inquests that he couldn't remember his whereabouts for two whole hours… endlessly, he said “I can’t recall, sir”. He blamed this memory loss on the trauma he suffered at Hillsborough.
Duckenfield insisted in court at the 2014-16 inquests that he couldn't remember his whereabouts for two whole hours… endlessly, he said “I can’t recall, sir”. He blamed this memory loss on the trauma he suffered at Hillsborough.
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At his retrial in 2019, he didn’t even give evidence, due to his PTSD.
At his retrial in 2019, he didn’t even give evidence, due to his PTSD.
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Many of us who were in pens 3 and 4, where the 96 were killed and over 700 others injured, were traumatised. I saw many people die within feet of me. I was crushed so severely I literally couldn’t lift a finger to help them.
Many of us who were in pens 3 and 4, where the 96 were killed and over 700 others injured, were traumatised. I saw many people die within feet of me. I was crushed so severely I literally couldn’t lift a finger to help them.
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I had to watch some of these people die, in agonising, helpless circumstances. I can still smell the sweat, the urine and the excrement, as their organs failed. I can remember them crying, pleading and screaming.
I had to watch some of these people die, in agonising, helpless circumstances. I can still smell the sweat, the urine and the excrement, as their organs failed. I can remember them crying, pleading and screaming.
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But I have no difficulty in recollecting where I was in the two hours between midday and 2pm. Occasional minutes, maybe… some trivial details are hazy. Was it a Fanta or a Coke I had from the shop on Leppings Lane? Not sure… But two whole hours?
But I have no difficulty in recollecting where I was in the two hours between midday and 2pm. Occasional minutes, maybe… some trivial details are hazy. Was it a Fanta or a Coke I had from the shop on Leppings Lane? Not sure… But two whole hours?
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Incredibly, not only did Duckenfield claim his memory loss was due to trauma, his designated police driver can’t recall where they were in that period, either.
Incredibly, not only did Duckenfield claim his memory loss was due to trauma, his designated police driver can’t recall where they were in that period, either.
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Many of the bereaved and survivors suspect Duckenfield was either in Hillsborough’s hospitality suite, or at the nearby police social club, the Niagara. Suspicions remain that he had been drinking on duty. It has not been proven, or admitted.
Many of the bereaved and survivors suspect Duckenfield was either in Hillsborough’s hospitality suite, or at the nearby police social club, the Niagara. Suspicions remain that he had been drinking on duty. It has not been proven, or admitted.
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But it’s one of the oldest tricks in the book to deflect blame for something onto others; and the more closer to your own truth it is, the more realistic: ‘The fans were drunk.’ The fans were ‘in drink’. The fans were ‘tanked up’. Yeah… did I have a Coke, or a Fanta?
But it’s one of the oldest tricks in the book to deflect blame for something onto others; and the more closer to your own truth it is, the more realistic: ‘The fans were drunk.’ The fans were ‘in drink’. The fans were ‘tanked up’. Yeah… did I have a Coke, or a Fanta?
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Like many other survivors, after escaping the crush in the central pens, I kicked down advertising boards and tried to rescue the dying. We took one man into the gym at the stadium, which was a scene so hellish that in Daniel Gordon’s Bafta-winning film about Hillsborough…
Like many other survivors, after escaping the crush in the central pens, I kicked down advertising boards and tried to rescue the dying. We took one man into the gym at the stadium, which was a scene so hellish that in Daniel Gordon’s Bafta-winning film about Hillsborough…
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…two former SYP who were on duty visibly struggle to even talk about what they witnessed in there. I’ll tell you what was happening in there: people were dying on the floor for lack of medical care. Because the police wouldn’t permit ambulances into the ground.
…two former SYP who were on duty visibly struggle to even talk about what they witnessed in there. I’ll tell you what was happening in there: people were dying on the floor for lack of medical care. Because the police wouldn’t permit ambulances into the ground.
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Why? Because the police told ambulance crews ‘the fans are fighting’.
Why? Because the police told ambulance crews ‘the fans are fighting’.
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The scene in that gym is the most horrific thing I’ve ever seen. But I can remember vividly what was going on in there, even now. Because trauma burns truth into your memory.
The scene in that gym is the most horrific thing I’ve ever seen. But I can remember vividly what was going on in there, even now. Because trauma burns truth into your memory.
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At some point I did lose my memory. The trauma of the hour from 2.40pm, when a crush began to affect me in the pens, until 3.40pm, when I carried that dead man into the gym, became so much that around 3.40pm, my mind shut down.
At some point I did lose my memory. The trauma of the hour from 2.40pm, when a crush began to affect me in the pens, until 3.40pm, when I carried that dead man into the gym, became so much that around 3.40pm, my mind shut down.
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I can’t remember the next 15-20 minutes - they’re a blank. Next thing I know, I’m back at the car, in a residential street, half a mile from the ground.
I can’t remember the next 15-20 minutes - they’re a blank. Next thing I know, I’m back at the car, in a residential street, half a mile from the ground.
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But my memory loss came *after* an hour of severe trauma. Duckenfield is claiming his loss of memory affects his recall of a period around 12-2pm, before anything serious or remotely traumatic had even occurred.
But my memory loss came *after* an hour of severe trauma. Duckenfield is claiming his loss of memory affects his recall of a period around 12-2pm, before anything serious or remotely traumatic had even occurred.
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And I doubt that however bad his trauma, it's not as severe as that suffered by so many survivors from pens 3 and 4. And I don’t recall a single survivor who testified in court being unable to remember where they were between midday and 2pm on 15 April 1989.
And I doubt that however bad his trauma, it's not as severe as that suffered by so many survivors from pens 3 and 4. And I don’t recall a single survivor who testified in court being unable to remember where they were between midday and 2pm on 15 April 1989.
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Much of the survivors’ power of recall comes down to a determination to preserve the truth. As great as our trauma was, we had a duty to preserve that truth in the face of an onslaught of establishment lies.
Much of the survivors’ power of recall comes down to a determination to preserve the truth. As great as our trauma was, we had a duty to preserve that truth in the face of an onslaught of establishment lies.
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Truth and trauma aren’t easy bedfellows – because truth locks trauma into the mind. This is part of the reason why survivors *remain* traumatised. But as great as our trauma has been, we cling to the truth even as it damages us. Because it’s that precious.
Truth and trauma aren’t easy bedfellows – because truth locks trauma into the mind. This is part of the reason why survivors *remain* traumatised. But as great as our trauma has been, we cling to the truth even as it damages us. Because it’s that precious.
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So why couldn’t David Duckenfield? Cling to the truth, I mean, in the same way as the survivors? Even if it meant doing it in the face of his trauma – which i don't believe can have been a fraction as bad as that suffered by traumatised survivors of pens 3 and 4.
So why couldn’t David Duckenfield? Cling to the truth, I mean, in the same way as the survivors? Even if it meant doing it in the face of his trauma – which i don't believe can have been a fraction as bad as that suffered by traumatised survivors of pens 3 and 4.
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Traumatised people who spent 27 years battling lies told by the likes of David Duckenfield. A man who, when given the opportunity to finally tell the truth about 15 April 1989, couldn’t remember, sir.
Traumatised people who spent 27 years battling lies told by the likes of David Duckenfield. A man who, when given the opportunity to finally tell the truth about 15 April 1989, couldn’t remember, sir.
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Cheers, anyway.
Cheers, anyway.
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