THE Hillsborough stadium officer in charge of safety at the time of the disaster in which 96 Liverpool FC fans were killed has been fined £6,500 for health and safety offences.

Former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary Graham Mackrell, 69, failed to ensure there were enough turnstiles in order to prevent a crush outside the Leppings Lane End.

Thirty years on from the 1989 tragedy, the 69-year-old appeared at Preston Crown Court after being found guilty of four health and safety matters last month.

This morning, he was ordered to pay a fine of £6,500 – as well as court costs of £5,000.

The stadium safety officer at the time of the disaster, Mackrell – who wore a suit with blue shirt and purple tie – sat in the well of the court rather than the dock for the hearing.

Around half-a-dozen family members sat in the public gallery, while three members of the jury returned to court for the sentencing.

Four Liverpool fans from Warrington were among 96 people killed during the FA Cup semi-final with Nottingham Forest.

They were 19-year-old Ian ‘Ronnie’ Whelan from Padgate, 19-year-old Colin Ashcroft from Locking Stumps, 22-year-old David Benson from Penketh and 42-year-old Eric Hughes from Callands.

Exit gates to the ground were opened in order to relieve a build-up of crowds outside, leading to the fatal crush in the central pens of the terracing.

Meanwhile, Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield could face a retrial over the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 of the Liverpool fans after the jury failed to reach a verdict in his case.