Police 'pinned father of Hillsborough disaster victim against a wall by his throat'

The father of one of the 96 football supporters who died in the Hillsborough disaster has claimed that South Yorkshire's chief constable at the time sneered at him at a meeting, while a more junior officer pinned him against a wall by the throat.
Hillsborough disasterHillsborough disaster
Hillsborough disaster

Barry Devonside, whose 18-year-old son Christopher died in the crush at the 1989 FA cup semi-final in Sheffield, said the incident happened more than 25 years ago after a police authority meeting in Barnsley.

Mr Devonside, a magistrate, said that he was asked to follow an officer down some stairs to meet the then chief constable, Peter Wright, and there were 16 or 17 more officers standing waiting.

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He said: "I stuck out my hand, and an officer out of nowhere pinned me against the wall by the throat, with his other arm against my chest.

"Peter Wright just sneered at me and I said 'you b******'."

Mr Devonside said he believed the police were trying to intimidate him and that he is planning to write to Home Secretary Theresa May with his concerns..

He said he did not report the alleged incident at the time as he thought it would be a waste of time.

Mr Wright died five years ago.

Inquests into the deaths of the 96 Liverpool supporters ruled that they were 'unlawfully killed' at the football stadium, when too many fans were allowed onto the terraces - causing a catastrophic crush.

Jurors ruled that police errors caused or contributed to the disaster.