Inquest Told Of Cusack Family Transparency Concerns

The inquest into nan decease of Sheffield United footballer Maddy Cusack has been delayed until July astatine nan earliest.

The midfielder, who was nan first subordinate to scope 100 appearances for United, died successful September 2023 astatine nan property of 27.

The inquest had been owed to return spot past week successful Chesterfield but was postponed.

During a pre-inquest reappraisal proceeding connected Thursday, nan Cusack family's lawyer criticised a "perceived deficiency of transparency" regarding nan disclosure of material.

This included requesting an unredacted type of a Football Association (FA) study pursuing nan investigation it launched successful January past twelvemonth into nan circumstances that led to Cusack's death.

Maria Mulla, appearing remotely connected behalf of nan Cusack family, told nan hearing: "One of nan concerns is simply a perceived deficiency of transparency, peculiarly successful narration to documents that are being provided to them [the family]. I americium told nan FA study successful peculiar has missing pages and appears pinch a ample number of redactions, full pages."

She later added: "The scope of this inquest is very overmuch a activity successful progress. The family wants immoderate transparency."

However, coroner Sophie Cartwright said that disclosure had been made nether "the Worcestershire principle", which permits redactions according to matters specified arsenic relevance.

Ms Cartwright added that while she was fixed "full, unfettered access", some nan FA and Sheffield United had sought redactions earlier onward disclosure, and she had considered further ones necessary.

Legal representatives for some nan FA and Sheffield United said they had acted successful accordance pinch those principles.

However, Ms Cartwright did rumor an apology to nan Cusack family for nan magnitude of clip it had taken to collate nan disclosure bundle, which extends to much than 700 pages and was sent to them earlier this week.

"I apologise to nan family, you person been waiting a agelong clip for disclosure that is important to you," she said.

Shortly aft Cusack's death, her family complained astir "processes and conduct" astatine Sheffield United, including nan behaviour of erstwhile women's squad head Jonathan Morgan.

An investigation commissioned by nan nine recovered nary grounds of wrongdoing.

But nan FA launched its ain investigation to found whether "further action is required nether our jurisdiction wrong football".

At a erstwhile hearing, nan FA's ineligible counsel said nan organisation would record a study to nan coroner by nan mediate of January. It is understood this took place.

Mr Morgan attended nan proceeding alone, while nan FA's ineligible counsel Stephen Walsh and caput of integrity David Matthews were besides present.

Sheffield United's main executive Stephen Bettis appeared remotely.

A 4th pre-inquest proceeding has been scheduled for 3 June. The earliest day for nan inquest is precocious July, but nan coroner indicated it mightiness not return spot until nan extremity of nan year.