April 16 – The judge who chaired the inquiry into the Bradford City fire disaster that killed 56 people in 1985 has described claims the blaze may have been started deliberately as “nonsense”.
A new book claims the fire was just one of at least nine that broke out at businesses owned or associated with the then club chairman Stafford Heginbotham who died in 1995.
Author Martin Fletcher lost three generations of his family in the fire and claims to have uncovered evidence that Heginbotham was in dire financial trouble at the time.
Fletcher has called for a fresh inquiry into the tragedy but speaking to the BBC, Sir Oliver Popplewell, the now-retired judge who chaired the official inquiry, commented: “I’m sorry to spoil what is obviously a very good story, I’m afraid is nonsense for many reasons.”
He said the main flaw in the argument that the fire may have been arson was that the stand involved had no insurance value because it was due for demolition.
Popplewell said the area had been examined by experienced investigators who found nothing suspicious and is standing by his verdict the fire was an accident, started by a lighted cigarette.
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