Let's lay to rest these bogus Bradford City fire allegations, says judge

In an interview with The Yorkshire Post, Sir Oliver Popplewell, who led the original investigation into the fire which killed 56 fans in 1985, has spoken after the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) dismissed recent claims.

West Yorkshire Police voluntarily referred itself to the IPCC after suggestions were made in a book by survivor Martin Fletcher. And while campaigners acknowledged there are still issues worth investigating, Sir Oliver insists the “pie in the sky” allegations need to be brought to an end.

“There’s absolutely nothing to investigate,” he said. “All the facts are known. The fire people at the Home Office accepted our recommendations. There’s absolutely no reason to have another inquiry.”

Martin Fletcher has spent years investigating the fire in which his father, brother, uncle and grandfather died. The original inquiry, chaired by Sir Oliver, ruled the blaze was an accident, probably started by a spectator dropping a cigarette into rubbish under an old timber stand.

But claims from Mr Fletcher, published in his book 56 – The Story of the Bradford Fire in 2015, suggested it was one of nine fires that occurred at businesses owned or linked to the club’s then chairman Stafford Heginbotham, who has since died.

The IPCC published an assessment on Thursday saying there was no cause to launch a new investigation, as it had found “no indication of potential misconduct by individual police officers”.

The Bradford City Supporters’ Trust chairman Manny Dominguez said the trust was glad of the findings. But he added he had immense sympathy for Mr Fletcher, and understood why questions were asked. He said: “I do think Mr Fletcher’s book warrants some investigation. It does bring up some salient points.”

However, Sir Oliver, who dismissed the book’s allegations as “sensationalist”, said they were “built on sand”.

“The police had done their investigation and it was definitely clear from scientific evidence, and from video, that the cause of it was very simple,” he said.

“One of two people, sitting in a particular row – and we didn’t name them for obvious reasons – had a lit match or a cigarette and dropped it onto the boards underneath. That started a small fire, a police officer came and looked at it and didn’t think there was any cause for alarm.”

The fire on May 11, 1985, had taken hold within just minutes, he said. But, he added, he had found no suggestion that police had done anything but their best.

“The police demonstrated great courage and bravery,” he said. “Of course the people of Bradford were worried. There is always a conspiracy theory. I’m sure Martin Fletcher will go to his grave thinking Mr Heginbotham started the fire. It’s pie in the sky.

“But I will say this about the people of Bradford – they behaved with great dignity and great courage. I grieve for them. But the idea that Heginbotham somehow set fire to the stand doesn’t do anyone any good.”