Did Freemasons help Hillsborough cover-up? Probe into claims secret society protected police commanders
Families of the victims have expressed concerns to the police watchdog about the promotion of Masons to powerful positions despite a lack of experience
COPS today face questions over the influence the powerful Freemasons had over the police force at the time of Hillsborough.
Families of the victims have expressed concerns to the police watchdog about the promotion of Masons to powerful positions despite a lack of experience.
The fresh inquests into the tragedy heard how overall match commander Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield had been a Freemason since 1975.
A jury yesterday found that the 96 victims of the disaster were unlawfully killed.
They ruled both police and ambulance workers caused or contributed to the loss of lives after the crush at Sheffield Wednesday’s ground on April 15, 1989.
Duckenfield said he did not know if his promotion within South Yorkshire Police in the weeks before the tragedy was influenced by his membership of the so-called "secret society", but added: "I would hope not."
His predecessor Brian Mole, now dead, had also been a member of the same lodge, jurors were told.
Duckenfield became head of his local lodge - a worshipful master - the year after the 1989 disaster.
As part of its overall investigation into alleged criminality the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), has examined concerns from the Hillsborough families over Freemason membership.
The United Grand Lodge of England has provided information, including historical attendance records of meetings, in order for investigators to see whether there was any correlation with individuals involved in decision-making around Hillsborough.
The hearings heard evidence from a police constable who said he had heard "a substantial meeting" of senior officers, including allegedly Mr Duckenfield, took place in the days after the disaster.
The officer said it was rumoured that most of the officers were Masons and it was said they were trying to blame Superintendent Roger Marshall for asking for the exit gate at Leppings Lane to be opened.
But coroner Sir John Goldring later warned the jury there was "not a shred of evidence" that such a meeting ever took place or that all of those named were Freemasons.
He advised them to put the "gossip and hearsay" to one side.
Giving evidence, Mr Duckenfield said he was unaware if his boss, Chief Constable Peter Wright, was also a Freemason.
He said: "I can't say whether he was or he wasn't. What I am saying is within my knowledge in the whole of the Sheffield/Yorkshire area, and in my lodge, he certainly wasn't a Freemason, and it wasn't customary in those days, because a situation had arisen where it was unfashionable, or some people thought unacceptable, to be a Freemason in a senior police position."
Freemasonry is one of the world's oldest and largest non-religious, non-political, fraternal and charitable organisations, according to the United Grand Lodge of England's website.
It adds that "it teaches self-knowledge through participation in a progression of ceremonies" and "is a society of men concerned with moral and spiritual values".
Duckenfield – now 71 - is at risk of prosecution, for the second time, for his conduct at Hillsborough.
He has already been interviewed under caution by detectives from Operation Resolve, the ongoing police investigation into the disaster.
Duckenfield was made chief superintendent on March 27, 1989 - three weeks before the disaster.
His knowledge of the stadium was "basic" and his experience of football policing severely limited.
The new boss had just 15 working days to familiarise himself with his new role, a "serious mistake" he admitted later.
As police lost control at the turnstiles, the man at the top "froze", overcome by the sheer enormity of the situation they had got into.
Within minutes told a "terrible lie" that fans "got in through gates" or "stormed" them - when in fact he had ordered them to be opened.