A coroner has issued a formal apology to the family of Sheffield United Women's player Maddy Cusack after they were handed a vast 699-page dossier of new evidence just days before Christmas, causing the inquest into her death to be postponed.
Family 'Distressed' by Last-Minute Evidence Disclosure
At a pre-inquest hearing on Monday, the Cusack family's barrister, Dean Armstrong KC, described the late disclosure from Sheffield United Football Club as 'totally unacceptable'. The substantial evidence was received on December 16, leaving Maddy's parents and siblings 'distressed' during an already difficult period.
With the coroner's office closed over the festive break, the family had only a matter of days to review the hundreds of pages before the inquest was due to begin on January 5. Consequently, the proceedings have now been adjourned to a later date.
'The family have made it clear... that it is extremely disappointing that the inquest has had to be vacated,' Mr Armstrong stated. He added that despite repeated requests for information from the club, nothing was forthcoming until the massive December dump, forcing the family to grapple with the material in the week before Christmas.
Club Denies Wrongdoing as Manager Opts to Represent Himself
Sheffield United's barrister, Joseph O'Brien KC, strongly contested the family's claims of non-cooperation. 'We reject wholeheartedly any suggestion of non-compliance with orders made by the court,' he said, insisting the club had acted in a way intended to keep the hearing on schedule.
The hearing also revealed that Jonathan Morgan, the team's manager at the time of Maddy's death, intends to represent himself at the rescheduled inquest. This raises the prospect of him personally cross-examining Maddy's family if they choose to give evidence.
Coroner Sophie Cartwright KC encouraged Mr Morgan to seek legal representation, noting the League Managers Association could assist, but he declined. Mr Morgan, who was sacked by the club in February 2024 and denies any wrongdoing, has criticised the witness list and suggested a former coach be called.
Timeline Confusion and Further Apology
It emerged that while the family believed all evidence was due by November 28, the coroner agreed with the club that a deadline in early December had been set. Further delay was caused by the coroner's office redacting documents, some related to the club's safeguarding policy.
Coroner Cartwright explicitly apologised for the impact of the timing on the Cusack family. The inquest into the death of the 27-year-old vice-captain, who was found at her Derbyshire home in September 2023, will now be rearranged, with a potential date in June discussed.
