Hillsborough: Police Watchdog Pursues Freemason 'Line Of Inquiry'

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is to pursue a "further line of inquiry" over claims Freemasons held sway on decisions at the time of the Hillsborough disaster.

The police watchdog revealed the development in an update on its overall investigation into alleged criminality and misconduct linked to the 1989 stadium disaster.

IPCC deputy chair Rachel Cerfontyne said: "We are pursuing a further line of inquiry on Freemasons.

"We are currently liaising with the United Grand Lodge of England, and they are assisting us by checking whether certain individuals involved in Hillsborough were Freemasons members."

The United Grand Lodge of England has already provided historical attendance records of meetings.

Families of the 96 victims have expressed concerns that Freemason police officers colluded to blame innocent Liverpool fans.

Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield, who was police commander at the fateful FA Cup Final match, told the fresh inquests into the deaths that he had been a Freemason since 1975.

He said he became head of his local lodge - a worshipful master - a year after the disaster at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium.

Mr Duckenfield said he did not know if he had his membership of the so-called secret society to thank for his promotion in South Yorkshire Police in the weeks before the tragedy.

But he added: "I would hope not."

Jurors heard that his predecessor Brian Mole, now deceased, was a member of the same lodge.

A police constable testified to the hearings in Warrington that he had heard "a substantial meeting" of senior officers took place in the days after the disaster.

It was rumoured that most of those who attended were Masons.

Coroner Sir John Goldring later warned the jury there was "not a shred of evidence" that such a meeting ever took place and told them to treat it as "gossip".

In April, the inquests jury concluded the 96 Liverpool fans were unlawfully killed.

They found that blunders by South Yorkshire Police "caused or contributed to" the disaster.

The IPCC is looking at whether offences such as conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and perverting the course of justice were committed in the aftermath of the disaster.

A separate criminal investigation, Operation Resolve, is probing the lead-up to the tragedy and the match day itself.

That inquiry is considering offences including gross negligence manslaughter, misconduct in public office and various health and safety breaches.