Errors in the summaries of evidence prepared by WMP
It was agreed that, for the individual inquests, WMP would compile and present summaries of evidence about each of those who died. The HSC was made aware of this and agreed to share the draft summaries with the solicitors representing each of the families in advance of the hearings. The intention was that these could then also be passed to the families, if they wished to read them.
The summaries consisted of “factual and non-adversarial” evidence about each of those who died. Using eyewitness accounts, including those of close friends and family members, plus video material, the summaries traced their known movements on the day.
The draft summaries were sent to Dr Popper, who corrected various factual or typographic errors before they were sent on to the families’ solicitors. His corrections addressed various issues created by mistakes in documentation around the post-mortems, none of which were deliberate or resulted in anyone being misidentified.
The changes to the summaries were fully documented in memos that were retained in the individual coroner’s files for each of those who died. The IOPC has reviewed the files and examined the evolution of the individual summaries.
IOPC investigators did not find evidence of any errors which could be construed as an attempt to portray those who died, or Liverpool supporters in general, in a negative light. Similarly, the mistakes did not in any way result in SYP or individual officers being portrayed in a more positive light.
Despite this process, further errors in the summaries were identified while they were being presented. Though these were promptly corrected and do not indicate a deliberate attempt to mislead the jury, they were understandably deeply upsetting to the families of those who died. They may also have created, or reinforced, perceptions that the authorities were uncaring or insensitive.
