Hillsborough inquests - November 11

The Hillsborough inquests commenced on March 31, 2014 and are the subject of reporting restrictions that have been imposed by the Attorney General's office. Liverpool Football Club is respectful of these restrictions and will therefore only be making available updates from other media channels for the duration of the inquest.

The report below - and the witness testimony contained within it - does not necessarily reflect the views of Liverpool FC. Please be aware that the reports on these pages will contain evidence about the day of the disaster which may be distressing.

To view archive reports from each day of the inquest hearings, click here.

Courtesy of the Liverpool Echo - November 11

The police officer initially charged with overseeing the investigation into the Hillsborough disaster believes it was right to check the alcohol levels of the deceased.

Former Detective Superintendent Graham McKay stood by the move but insisted he played no role in the decision.

He also accepted false claims Reds supporters had forced open a stadium gate had brought "great disgrace" on South Yorkshire Police.

On his third day of evidence, Mr McKay's role at Hillsborough's gym - used as a temporary mortuary on the day - was discussed as well as his responsibilities in initially leading the inquiry into the disaster until it was taken over by West Midlands Police.

Mr McKay played a key role in overseeing the casualties brought to the gym by the emergency services and fans.

Asked if it was fair to say there was no system to assess casualties in the gym, Mr McKay said: "That's true but everyone was doing the best they could. It was a scene that I was quite unprepared for. Nothing like that had ever occurred in my life... it was a tremendous shock to one's senses."

He said he thought all casualties had been assessed on the pitch before reaching the gym.

Stephen Simblett then told the witness one of the families he represented was that of Paul Brady, who was carried toward the gym by an officer who thought there was medical treatment there unavailable on the pitch.

Mr Brady did not reach the gym as he was put into an ambulance that became available on the way, but Mr McKay agreed the incident highlighted a difference in thinking between what was happening on the pitch and in the gym.

Mr McKay then denied ordering the criminal records and alcohol levels of the deceased to be checked. But, relating to the checking of alcohol levels, he said: "I can quite understand why it was done and I think it was the correct thing to do."

The inquest was told Mr McKay, who initially became the senior investigating officer, had no knowledge Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield had suggested fans had forced open Gate C.

He agreed the suggestion had brought "great disgrace" on the force but accepted nobody then questioned the credibility of Mr Duckenfield at a briefing the day after the tragedy. Mr McKay disputed further claims he undermined the disaster investigation by asking officers not to write notes in official pocketbooks.

Asked why, despite it being "second nature" for officers to time and date first accounts of incidents, so many officers appear not to have done that, Mr McKay said: "I don't know. It certainly wasn't an instruction from me."

Mr McKay accepted when he made his suggestion to officers to make an aide memoire he was aware potential civil claims against police could arise.

Tuesday's hearing also returned to Mr McKay's use of the word "lemmings" to describe fans who entered the ground through Gate C.

Saying it was a common misconception lemmings commit mass suicide, Mr Wilcock, another family representative, described the analogy as offensive and inaccurate.

He said: "Isn't it right that lemmings aren't usually sold tickets to a place where they think they will be safe and then directed to their deaths by the very people charged with looking after them?"

Mr McKay accepted he may have made an unfortunate choice of words.

The inquests continue.