Hillsborough: Ex-Sheffield Wednesday secretary Graham Mackrell fined over role in disaster
The 1989 disaster, in which 96 Liverpool fans died, remains the worst loss of life at any sporting event in UK history.
Monday 13 May 2019 15:07, UK
The former club secretary at Sheffield Wednesday has been fined 拢6,500 plus legal costs for his role in the Hillsborough football disaster that claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool fans.聽
Graham Mackrell, 69, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court over health and safety breaches that related to his duty of care to supporters attending the 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
The deadly crush at Hillsborough's Leppings Lane end resulted in the worst loss of life at any sporting event in UK history.
At the sentencing hearing, Mr Justice Openshaw concluded that Mackrell's actions had added to the crush outside the Hillsborough ground before kick-off, but did not lead directly to the deadly crushing in the pens behind the goal.
Mackrell did not give oral evidence at his trial and offered "no comment" answers in police interviews.
The jury concluded that Mackrell did breach his duty of care to supporters attending the match after hearing evidence on the provision of turnstiles for fans to get into the stadium.
Some 10,100 people with tickets to support Liverpool were expected to pass through just seven turnstiles for the standing sections at the Leppings Lane end.
Just 23 turnstiles were available for all 24,000 Liverpool supporters.
The jury heard that fan safety was part of Mackrell's responsibility as club secretary at the host club Sheffield Wednesday.
Sentencing Mackrell, Mr Justice Openshaw said: "Thirty years ago the role of safety officers at football clubs was not defined.
"There was no industry standard to guide them."
The judge said that in 1989 Mackrell "rearranged the turnstile allocation" and added "he should have realised there was an obvious risk that so many spectators could not pass through just seven turnstiles".
The judge conceded that his sentencing options were "very limited" and had to be based upon the punishments that were available at the time of the offence in 1989.
Following his sentencing, Mackrell said: "I am grateful that today the judge recognised my conduct did not cause or contribute to the death of any person or cause any person to be injured on that tragic day.
"Despite that, I do wish to take this opportunity to make clear my sympathy to all those impacted by this appalling tragedy. No one should have to go through what the families have experienced."
Mackrell is still listed as a "football administrator" on the League Managers Association website, saying that he is "responsible for handling the association's technical and regulatory relationship with football's stakeholders."
The website adds: "Graham manages the day-to-day affairs of both the Professional Football Coaches Association (PFCA) and the Professional Football Administrators Association (PFAA)."
The League Managers Association declined to make a statement.