Fan Death Accidental

Jury Return Verdict Of Accidental Death

During the course of the nine days, the jury heard from several witnesses of the event including one of Terry’s friends and the policeman that was riding the horse that crushed him.

One eye witness had described the horse as ‘out of control’ when it cantered down the lane next to the Millmoor ground whilst another said that Terry would run the other way rather than get involved in any trouble. The police officer, PC Lindsay now retired from the force, however claimed that he had seen Mr Coles pick up objects and throw them into the ground.

Some discussion took place around the amount of alcohol that had been consumed in the mini bus trip to Rotherham and one of Mr Coles’ friends said that he had probably drunk seven pints – not an excessive figure on the day amongst the Swansea support I would imagine.

Another Swansea fan Alan Roberts told how they were spat at and were the target of missiles hurled by opposing fans which led to retaliatory stone-throwing outside Rotherham’s Millmoor ground. "It was totally out of control and lots of people didn’t want to get involved," he said.

Soon after he was to witness Mr Coles being trampled by the police horse. "There was no way it was going to stop in time," he said then describing how it hit with a "terrific force", knocking Mr Coles off his feet.

After the enquiry, Terry’s widow, Christine read a statement at the magistrates court that said she was pleased, three years after the event, that a public enquiry had been made into her husband’s death.

"Despite what has been said and written about his alcohol consumption on the day Terry was no football hooligan," she said.

"His two children have been deprived of a father at a young age and I intend to continue with a civil action against S Yorkshire Police which has already commenced."

Some of the evidence given at the trial certainly doesn’t seem to co-incide with what others who were present on that fateful day said but the jury were presented with the evidence and the decision that has now been given should be the end of it for Swansea supporters. I believe that Mrs Coles is right to take the action that she is taking against South Yorkshire police as it does read as if there is a potential cover up here.

I have witnessed the Coles family on the last day of two of the subsequent seasons laying flowers at the point where TC stands and the picture at the start of this article reminds me that the young girl pictured will grow up without her father present.

Now that the public enquiry is over, it is time for us to let Terry rest in peace and the family to be able to carry on with what they need to do outside of the public glare.

A sad loss to the Jack Army support and he will never be forgotten and maybe the club should look to mark his passing every year with some form of tribute of their own?

Rest in Peace Terry – we will never forget you.

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