Page:Hillsborough Taylor Interim Report Cm765.pdf/28

 PART II - WHY DID IT HAPPEN?

Dr John Habgood, Archbishop of York, preaching at the Hillsborough Memorial Service on 23 April 1989.

This disaster was the worst in the history of British football. It happened because pens 3 and 4 became grossly overcrowded. They were uncomfortably overcrowded by 2.50 pm at least to a degree which required that they should be closed to further arrivals. Even the numbers coming through the turnstiles in the last 10 minutes would have increased the pressure beyond danger point and there would have been injuries if not fatalities. As it was, the influx through gate C after 2.52 pm so increased the pressure in the two pens as to cause fatal crushing.

The overcrowding up to 2.52 pm was due to a number of factors which can be considered broadly under three heads.

The crushing and fatalities after 2.52 pm must be considered under a number of headings.

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