Sheffield United have denied intentionally delaying the inquest into the demise of their former girls’s crew captain Maddy Cusack.
Cusack died abruptly aged 27 in September 2023, with police saying the circumstances weren’t thought of suspicious.
Afterwards, her household claimed that stress had been placed on Cusack by “processes and conduct” at Sheffield United, together with allegations over the behaviour of former supervisor Jonathan Morgan.
Her inquest was initially scheduled for April final 12 months, earlier than being rearranged for this month.
However on Monday at Chesterfield Coroners Courtroom, the method was pushed again till 29 June.
Attorneys representing the Cusack household mentioned that “this can be very disappointing” that Sheffield United supplied 699 pages of paperwork simply earlier than Christmas, having initially been given a late November deadline.
The brand new paperwork embody a press release from Cheryl Anderson, the membership’s head of safeguarding.
Dean Armstrong KC, representing the Cusacks, informed the courtroom: “The household discovered themselves, already on the most troublesome time of their lives, having to attempt to become familiar with 700 pages of fabric every week earlier than Christmas for a listening to the primary day after the Christmas break.
“We deem that unacceptable. It has had an impression on them.”
Joseph O’Brien KC, on behalf of Sheffield United, replied: “The complaints are wholly misplaced. We reject completely any suggestion of non-compliance.
“Now we have made strenuous efforts to verify info was despatched to related events. The suggestion we’ve got not directly contributed to the adjournment by non-compliance is wholly with out benefit.”
The coroner added that courtroom procedures and the necessity to make redactions to paperwork had contributed to the delay.
