New Bradford Fire Review?

[jimmycase]

Bradford City fire: Government to consider Hillsborough-style review 30 years after 56 died at Valley Parade Theresa May ready to consider Hillsborough-style independent review into tragedy in which 56 people were killed at Bradford City's Valley Parade

 

The Bradford City fire killed 56 people in May 1985 Photo: REX FEATURES

 

By Sam Wallace, Chief Football Writer

7:17PM GMT 06 Nov 2015

 

 

The Home Secretary, Theresa May, has agreed to look into a request for a Hillsborough-style independent review into the investigation of the 1985 Bradford City fire that killed 56 people, and the serious questions subsequently posed about the club’s then-chairman Stafford Heginbotham.

• Pain of Bradford fire is still raw for all affected

In response to a letter sent by survivor Martin Fletcher, who has spent 16 years investigating the fire, the West Yorkshire police force, who conducted the original investigation, have voluntarily referred themselves to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

• Bradford fire 'may not have been accident'

Fletcher asked May to consider setting up an independent review similar to the Hillsborough Independent Panel, the findings of which prompted David Cameron to issue an apology in Parliament to the families of those killed and led to the new inquest currently being held into the deaths of 96 people at an FA Cup semi-final in 1989.

May replied last Monday to say that she would consult with other government departments over Fletcher’s request. Fletcher, 42, was 12 at the time of the fire at Valley Parade, which claimed the lives of his brother Andrew, 11; father, John, 34; uncle, Peter, 32 and grandfather, Eddie, 63. He later discovered that in the 18 years before the disaster, there had been nine fires at businesses owned by or associated to Heginbotham, who died in 1995.

Flowers are placed outside Valley Parade after the fire that claimed 56 lives in 1985  Photo: REX

In a letter to May sent last month, Fletcher asked for acknowledgement that the assumptions made in the original inquiry into the fire by Sir Oliver Popplewell could no longer be considered safe, given he was unaware of Heginbotham’s history with fires, or his precarious business affairs at the time. Fletcher has requested an apology over the police investigation. He also asked that oversight of any new investigation be handed to an independent police force.

Since meeting West Yorkshire police this month, Fletcher is concerned that there is nothing in the force’s files about the history of fires at Heginbotham’s businesses. Fletcher has never made any direct allegations about the former Bradford chairman but in a recent book on his investigation Fifty-Six: The Story of the Bradford Fire, Fletcher has simply posed the question “How could one man be so unlucky?” Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Fletcher praised the decision of the current West Yorkshire force to refer themselves to the IPCC but said he was concerned that any independent review be given access to the history of fires not made available to the original inquiry.

He said: “If what I am being told that these other fires – which were front page news in Bradford before 1985 – are not in the police files the next point is to say we need another investigation.”

 

 

I find it alarming that West Yorkshire police did not know of the other fires. We clearly need an investigation that looks at Stafford Heginbotham’s role

Martin Fletcher, Bradford fire survivor

 

 

He says he does not blame Popplewell for coming to the conclusions he did on the basis of the evidence offered to him. The retired High Court judge, now 88, has stood by his findings, but Fletcher says that it was impossible for the inquiry to reach an accurate conclusion on the evidence presented to them by the West Yorkshire police.

He said: “I find it alarming that West Yorkshire police did not know of them [the fires]. We clearly need an investigation that looks at Stafford Heginbotham’s role within the wider issues that weren’t considered. Given the fact these previous fires weren’t in the files we need to look at the possibility of concealing evidence in relation to perverting the course of justice.”

Bradford fire of 1985 shocked the nation

Fletcher has pursued the case on behalf of the families of those who died, but also, he said, the police officers serving at Valley Parade who did their best to rescue fans. He himself was taken to hospital on that day, May 11, 1985, in an ambulance along with injured officers, many of whose West Yorkshire colleagues never worked again through injury or trauma.

Of the 154 civil claims against the club and local council subsequently, both of whom were found responsible, 44 were police officers. Fletcher said: “Many officers who wore the uniform with pride did not return to work after that day.” The Home Office was contacted but did not respond.

 

[SammyAftershave]

Good luck to them.

[G Richards]

Indeed. Good luck to them. All the fires in relation to businesses Heginbotham had an interest in certainly demands a thorough investigation. I remember the day very well. Very shocking.

[Lee909]

Hopefully they get it and its done properly and the families get some closer

[Anubis]

Hopefully this comes off. They deserve a proper investigation.

[Kant]

One man making a difference.

Fair play.

Let's hope they get to the truth.

[magicrat]

Hopefully this comes off. They deserve a proper investigation.

Indeed.

Horrendous what happened to those people. I know someone that lost their Grandad in the fire so have heard some of the details of what they suffered 

[AngryOfTuebrook]

35 years ago today.

 

Most of the 56 who died were found by a locked fire escape.

 

Cunts learn nothing in this country.

[JohnnyH]

It's the young names, and the families, and the dads and lads on that list that just breaks your heart.  

[Anubis]

Terrible tragedy. Thoughts with the Bradford fans. Never got the enquiry they deserved.

[Trumo]

Another example of needless deaths caused by those higher up cutting corners and failing to heed advice on matters of safety.

[dockers_strike]

Another terrible day for football. I will never forget the desparation in the voice of the radio announcer, Red Rose radio I think it was, asking for any fire applicance to go to Valley Parade immediately. That's a distance of about 45 miles I think.

 

RIP to all.

[VladimirIlyich]

Got engaged on that day too,to the missus. Son in law and family are Bradford supporters too and when his Dad died a few months back we all donated money to the Bradford City charity with their local hospital burns unit. I suggest today might be a good day to do that if you can spare a couple of quid.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, VladimirIlyich said:

Got engaged on that day too,to the missus. Son in law and family are Bradford supporters too and when his Dad died a few months back we all donated money to the Bradford City charity with their local hospital burns unit. I suggest today might be a good day to do that if you can spare a couple of quid.

Is there a link?

[Tony Moanero]

Trevor Cherry, Bradford manager at the time of the fire, died last month.

 

[VladimirIlyich]

2 hours ago, Shooter in the Motor said:

Is there a link?

https://www.justgiving.com/bcfcburnsunitappeal

[suzy]

I remember it well, awful tragedy.

[Redder Lurtz]

38 years ago today. 

RIP Bradford's 56

[VladimirIlyich]

4 minutes ago, Redder Lurtz said:

38 years ago today. 

RIP Bradford's 56

Wow. Time has flown from that awful day.

[YorkshireRed]

We had an American relative staying with us at the time.

 

He wanted to go to Howarth, he was something of a Brontë fan. My dad drove, me and my brother also went along for the ride. 
 

On the way home we were diverted away from Valley Parade. It wasn’t until we got home that we understood why.

 

I hope they get whatever they need that will bring some peace of mind. 

 

Never forgotten. 

[Harry's Lad]

Awful. May they rest in peace.

[Anubis]

They should get a proper inquiry. Another set of fans shat on by the authorities.

[Bjornebye]

RIP those who died and the families. X