The Bradford Fire

[PuB]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/apr/15/bradford-fire-stafford-heginbotham-martin-fletcher

 

[ConnorFackinThomas]

Pretty harrowing read:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/apr/15/bradford-fire-stafford-heginbotham-martin-fletcher…

 

[SUTSS]

Incredible story and they must think there is a decent amount of evidence behind it to be publishing it.

 

[Gashead]

Christ, implications aplenty there.

 

[PuB]

A really horrible read that makes me feel even more sorry for those involved and their families.

 

[Indian Dan]

One thing comes to mind - if the fire was deliberately set for financial gain, why would it be done with thousands of people in it?

 

[JJ1532]

One thing comes to mind - if the fire was deliberately set for financial gain, why would it be done with thousands of people in it?

Well, if it was done on a day it was empty, wouldn't their be a suggestion of insurance fraud? But yeah, this is the bit I'm struggling with. Why would the bloke either help set the fire or not do enough to prevent one and potentially kill thousands of people? Although, given the amount of fires this bloke was connected to, how insurance companies never investigated him for said fraud I don't know. How has it taken 30 years for these suggestions to come to light?

What are Bradford fans thoughts on this?

 

[william death]

Incredible story and they must think there is a decent amount of evidence behind it to be publishing it.

Not really - Heginbotham is dead, so couldn't take any legal action. Nor can his family.

Absolutely staggering claims, unbelievably grim if true.

 

[Dolph Ziggler]

Well, if it was done on a day it was empty, wouldn't their be a suggestion of insurance fraud? But yeah, this is the bit I'm struggling with. Why would the bloke either help set the fire or not do enough to prevent one and potentially kill thousands of people? Although, given the amount of fires this bloke was connected to, how insurance companies never investigated him for said fraud I don't know. How has it taken 30 years for these suggestions to come to light?

What are Bradford fans thoughts on this?

I'm fuming.


LET IT GO. THE FAMILIES HAVE DEALT WITH THE DAY IN THEIR OWN WAY, AS HAVE THE CLUB AND OTHER FANS.

STOP TRYING TO MAKE THIS A HILLSBOROUGH THING. IT'S NOT THE SAME. YOU CAN ONLY COMPARE THE 2 BECAUSE THEY WERE BOTH FOOTBALL RELATED.

SERIOUSLY, LEAVE IT. IT'S NOT WORTH PUTTING FAMILIES THROUGH THE SHITE. THEY'RE NOT LOOKING FOR RETRIBUTION OR SOMEONE TO BLAME, SO DON'T BRING THIS BACK UP AND MAKE THEM DEAL WITH SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE DEALT WITH.

 

[James [bcafc]]

He's a twat is that guy, last year he wrote an article about how we'd basically forgotten about it and never paid any respect on the date Etc. Complete lies and he certainly got some shit on Twitter.

 

[James [bcafc]]

Well. I've just read it and wow. didn't know Any of that an It makes you wonder.

 

[Robert Molenaar]

Ahh Daniel Taylor, absolute fucking cretin.

 

[Dolph Ziggler]

Well. I've just read it and wow. didn't know Any of that an It makes you wonder.

But what will it achieve?

No one is disputing what it "looks like". It's just a case of what will it achieve? No charges can be brought against ANYONE. IT will just make families go through unnecessary grief.

 

[Modernist]

The stand involved had no insurance value because it was due for demolition.
The fire was examined by experienced and thorough investigators who found nothing suspicious.

 

[Dolph Ziggler]

The stand involved had no insurance value because it was due for demolition.
The fire was examined by experienced and thorough investigators who found nothing suspicious.

A judge has called the book and it's claims "nonsense".

Released less than 1 month before the memorial?

Cheap cash in.

 

[James [bcafc]]

But what will it achieve?

No one is disputing what it "looks like". It's just a case of what will it achieve? No charges can be brought against ANYONE. IT will just make families go through unnecessary grief.

Not saying it'll achieve owt and I'm shocked it's published, just saying I didn't know that and it does put a doubt it peoples minds. As bad as that is, especially on the 30th anniversary.

I've noticed he hasn't mentioned if the profits (if any) from this book are going to the burns unit that I find rather shocking. the guy has been all over the national radio today Aswell.

 

[Dolph Ziggler]

He claims in the book that the SH did it for the insurance.... no insurance was ever claimed, the stand was mark to be torn down 24 hours later. The guy has nothing, he's looking an idiot.

 

[Modernist]

He claims in the book that the SH did it for the insurance.... no insurance was ever claimed, the stand was mark to be torn down 24 hours later. The guy has nothing, he's looking an idiot.

what about:-

'his next fire, which killed 56 people, resulted in Bradford City receiving insurance proceeds and associated grants of £988,000. In today’s adjusted terms that’s £7m. It’s also a bit of a joke that, back in 1985, nobody picked up on the fact that Heginbotham – seemingly a one-man walking nightmare for insurance companies – had already recouped nearly a million pounds (£10m in today’s terms) before his club was rewarded with the further gift of £1.46m (worth £10.25m in today’s money) by the local authority, to take his total fire proceeds from his Bradford firms to £2.74m – or £27m in today’s adjusted terms"

 

[Dolph Ziggler]

The inquest has shown that no insurance was paid out on the stand. Justice Popplewell confirmed this.