SM
Sports Mole words bigger AMP 2
Man City vs. Chelsea: 19 hrs 54 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Judge brands claims that Bradford City fire was deliberate "nonsense"

:Headline: Judge brands claims that Bradford City fire was deliberate 'nonsense': ID:217460: from db_amp
The judge who led the inquiry into the Bradford City stadium fire in 1985 describes claims that the blaze could have been started deliberately as "nonsense".

The judge who led the inquiry into the Bradford City stadium fire has rubbished fresh claims that it could have been started deliberately by former chairman Stafford Heginbotham.

A new book, which is being serialised by The Guardian, by Martin Fletcher has claimed that the 1985 fire, which killed 56 people, was one of nine blazes that occurred at businesses owned or linked to Heginbotham.

Fletcher has alleged that the then-chairman, who passed away in 1995, was struggling with financial problems during the time of the fire.

However, retired judge Sir Oliver Popplewell has stood by his verdict that the blaze was an accident because the stand in question at Valley Parade had no insurance value and was due for demolition.

"I'm sorry to spoil what is obviously a very good story, I'm afraid is nonsense for many reasons," Popplewell told BBC Radio Leeds.

"I don't think it's going to affect what we decided but I think it is important from a public point of view that the police look at the other fires and see if there was anything sinister."

Fletcher lost his father, younger brother, uncle and grandfather in the fire.

amp_article__217460 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2015-04-17 09:19:33:
html db last update - 2015-04-17 09:19:33 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Stafford Heginbotham

Click here for more stories about Bradford City

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Walsall25184352232958
2Crewe AlexandraCrewe261210434221246
3Port Vale2612863227544
4AFC Wimbledon24134737191843
5Notts County25127641261543
6Doncaster RoversDoncaster2612773630643
7Salford City2512672921842
8Bradford CityBradford2511863427741
9Grimsby Town26122123741-438
10Chesterfield259883930935
11Bromley2581073531434
12MK Dons25104113937234
13Fleetwood TownFleetwood248973229333
14Colchester UnitedColchester2661372928131
15Cheltenham TownCheltenham2587103438-431
16Gillingham2493122225-330
17Harrogate TownHarrogate2785142337-1429
18BarrowBarrow2577112328-528
19Swindon TownSwindon27610113341-828
20Newport CountyNewport2475123243-1126
21Accrington StanleyAccrington2467113243-1125
22Tranmere RoversTranmere2567121839-2125
23Morecambe2555152240-1820
24Carlisle UnitedCarlisle2546151939-2018
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .