Hillsborough inquiry: David Duckenfield denies ‘conspiracy’

Duckenfield was confronted by the father of a Hillsborough victim

Former South Yorkshire Police Chief David Duckenfield (Getty Images)

Hillsborough police chief David Duckenfield has told the jury into the inquests of 96 Liverpool fans that there was no conspiracy to interfere with evidence or encouraging of police officers to change statements after the disaster.

Giving evidence for a final day, the 70-year-old match commander in charge of policing the FA Cup semi-final in 1989, said he didn’t know anything about a conspiracy to interfere with evidence.

Mr Duckenfield’s counsel John Beggs QC asked: “It has been suggested by some of the barristers sitting in front of me there was some conspiracy to interfere with a fair collection of evidence. Did you have any part in that?”

“None at all, sir,” he replied.

Mr Duckenfield was also confronted by the father of a victim outside the inquest in Warrington. Barry Devonside lost his 18-year-old son, Christopher, in the disaster. The pair had travelled to the match together and he watched the tragedy unfold from Hillsborough’s North Stand but had to wait more than six hours before police confirmed his son’s body was in the makeshift mortuary in a gymnasium.