Drunken supporters urinated in garden, inquest told

About 10 days after the tragedy, officers made door-to-door inquiries in Sheffield with one of the questions asked: “Did you witness any incidents of drunkenness or disorderly behaviour by any of the fans?

One of those quizzed was Angela Hockenhull who lived above a shop near the Leppings Lane end of Sheffield Wednesday’s ground, the jury sitting in Warrington was told.

In reply she said: “From about quarter-to-two on the day in question, drunken youths in red and white scarves were coming into my garden to urinate.

“They appeared very drunk and were very abusive. The youths moved away up Leppings Lane towards the ground.”

The witness had told previous hearings into the tragedy that “several dozens” of what she thought were Liverpool fans had gone on to her property to relieve themselves before her husband sought assistance and a police officer was stationed at her front garden gate.

Giving evidence via video link, Ms Hockenhull said three days later she was visited at home by two police officers who took a more detailed statement.

She said: “We had an informal conversation first and then we paraphrased the phrases that he thought were relevant into the statement.

“I believe he wrote out the things that I thought were relevant and then gave it to me to read and then I signed it.”

In the questionnaire, she answered “no” to whether any damage had been caused by fans and if there was anything that marked the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest as any different to other matches.