Hillsborough Stadium Tragedy Claims 97th Victim
Faizan Hashmi Published July 29, 2021 | 06:10 PM
London, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Jul, 2021 ) :The number of Liverpool fans unlawfully killed in the 1989 Hillsborough stadium disaster has risen to 97, after a coroner's ruling on the death of a man injured in the crush.
Andrew Devine was badly hurt in the tragedy at the FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989 and died after 32 years from aspiration pneumonia.
Liverpool coroner Andre Rebello said Devine's injuries were considered at a landmark inquest that concluded in 2016 where a jury partly blamed police failings for the deaths.
"The inquest was comprehensive and thorough and arose out of the same circumstances that caused the crush injuries to Andrew Devine, which were to prove fatal 32 years later," he said in the record of inquest, seen by AFP on Thursday.
"As such, it is proportionate, reasonable and sufficient for me to adopt the jury's findings and determination in full." Devine, 55, was admitted to hospital on July 12 with aspiration pneumonia and fever, and died on Monday morning, the coroner recorded at an inquest hearing held in the city on Wednesday.
The coroner said he was predisposed to the fatal condition, in which food, drink, vomit or saliva is inhaled into the lungs, because of the brain injury he suffered at the match which affected his swallow reflex.
"I find that it is more likely than not that Andrew Devine was unlawfully killed, making him the 97th fatality from the events of April 15 1989," he added.
- 'Defied expectations' - Devine's family said in a statement released through Liverpool that they welcomed the ruling, calling him a "much-loved son, brother and uncle".
"He has been supported by his family and a team of dedicated carers, all of whom devoted themselves to him," they added.
The club said it was "deeply saddened" by Devine's death.
"A lifelong Liverpool supporter, Andrew continued to attend matches at Anfield when possible despite suffering life-changing injuries at Hillsborough," a spokesman said.
"In doing so he defied expectations that he would not survive for six months after the tragedy." Players and staff on Thursday observed a 97-second silence in memory of Devine at the club's pre-season training camp in Austria.
Manager Jurgen Klopp called him "an incredible person".
The Hillsborough disaster remains Britain's worst sporting tragedy and was caused during a crowd surge at one end of Sheffield Wednesday's ground hosting Liverpool supporters.
The 2016 inquest came after three decades of campaigning by families of the victims, and found police errors in opening an exit gate before kick-off caused the fatal crush.
Police initially claimed that supporters had stormed the gate. The Sun newspaper is still shunned on Merseyside after it blamed fans, who were exonerated at the inquest.
But South Yorkshire Police admitted after the hearing they got match policing "catastrophically wrong".
Match commander David Duckenfield was tried twice for gross negligence manslaughter. A jury failed to reach a verdict in the first and he was cleared in a second trial in 2019.
The case against two retired former officers and a lawyer who represented South Yorkshire Police collapsed earlier this year after the judge ruled there was no case to answer.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
2600 uplift projects near completion across South Punjab
Project Director SFERP for early completion of road work before forthcoming mons ..
Spain vows to block BBVA's hostile bid for rival bank
Bank of England holds rate at 16-year high, signals looming cut
London, Frankfurt hit record highs on rate-cut hopes
Entire road work completed before forthcoming monsoon: Kanasaro
Crespo-Kewell Champions League rivalry renewed in Asian final
Bank of England holds rate at 16-year high, signals looming cut
SBP injects Rs 393.75 billion into market
Rupee sheds 10 paisa against US dollar
Federal Ombudsman' regional office holds open court at Paharpur Tehsil
Technological advancements essential for driving country's development: Shaza
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Concerted efforts urged to ease traffic flow on city roads
4 days ago -
Land degradation: A threat to food security
4 days ago -
Revamping health sector, a gigantic task ahead
4 days ago -
American band promotes intercultural harmony thru music fusions
5 days ago -
Waste Management – A persistent challenge for MWMC
6 days ago -
Experts for ending child labour
8 days ago
-
Labour Day - A reminder for better facilities to workers
8 days ago -
Stage Drama Mohabati Manhoon presents in Arts council Larkana
11 days ago -
Wheat farmers in a fix on price, procurement mechanism
11 days ago -
Modern tools to help transform crime investigation procedures
11 days ago -
Sanam Marvi captivates audience with mesmerizing performance
12 days ago -
Modern Education Techniques: A pathway to achieve economic development
13 days ago