Hillsborough Tragedy

[Booney]

David Duckenfield, the police's match commander on the day of the Hillsborough tragedy, has admitted that his failure to order the closure of a tunnel at the stadium led to the deaths of 96 people.

Duckenfield was in charge of the policing operation when 96 fans received fatal injuries in crushing at Hillsborough - which was hosting an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest - on 15 April 1989.

During his testimony at the new inquests, Duckenfield was asked by Paul Greaney QC - acting on behalf of the Police Federation of England and Wales - whether his failure to close a tunnel leading to the central pen of the Leppings Lane End was "the direct cause of the deaths of 96 persons in the Hillsborough tragedy".

"Yes, sir," he replied.

Last week, Duckenfield admitted that his previous version of events - in which he failed to tell Football Association official Graham Kelly that he had ordered an exit gate to be opened - was untrue.

The original inquests' verdict of accidental death for all 96 people was quashed by the High Court in December 2012.

The inquests continue.

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