Police are on the hunt for a group of Chester fans who sang a chant about Lucy Letby during the match against Hereford this week.
According to the BBC, Chester have condemned the song, which was about the Hereford-born nurse, jailed last month after being found guilty of murdering seven babies at at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016. She had also been convicted of trying to kill six other infants.
The club said they would review CCTV footage to identify those involved singing ‘Lucy Letby, she’s one of your own’ towards Hereford fans, with Vice Chairman Jim Green having his say on the incident.
Police are trying track down a group of Chester fans after they chanted about Lucy Letby during Tuesday’s game against Hereford
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He said: “Chester FC condemns the appalling chant heard during our match with Hereford.
“We are ashamed to be associated with anyone responsible for the chant and will be reviewing CCTV footage to identify those involved and take the appropriate action.
“It is reprehensible behaviour and demonstrates a deeply concerning lack of compassion, understanding and decency.”
He adds that the impact of Letby’s “horrifying crimes” continued to be felt throughout the Chester community.
“The collective thoughts of the football club, our staff and supporters remain with the families and loved ones of the babies,” he added.
One Chester fan wrote via Twitter: “Chant I didn’t expect to hear tonight: “Lucy Letby she’s one of your own’.”
Another supporter took to the Deva Chat forum: “What was with the Lucy Letby she’s one of your own chants? May well be from Hereford but went uni, lived and committed the murders in Chester.
“Some of the young lads need a head wobble.”
Another added: “I know one of the families affected, chanting about it is disgusting.”
The game ended in a 2-1 victory for Hereford, with the away side snatching all three points in a late comeback.
Aurio Teixeira hit one from range to clinch a big win for the Bulls at the Deva Stadium in Tuesday night.
The result takes Hereford up to 15th in the National League North table, a place above opponents for Chester, and have 10 points from 8 games played. Chester meanwhile are 16th with 8 points from the same amount of games played.
Letby, 33, became the most prolific child serial killer in modern British history and was given a whole-life sentence, meaning she will never be released from prison.
She deliberately injected the babies with air, force fed others milk and poisoned two of them with insulin. Some of the survivors have suffered life-changing injuries.
Mr Justice Goss told Letby: “There was a malevolence bordering on sadism in your actions. During the course of this trial you have coldly denied any responsibility for your wrongdoing. You have no remorse. There are no mitigating factors.”
In August, it was announced that new punishments would be put in place by the Crown Prosecution Service over tragedy chanting.
A CPS Spokesperson said last month: “The CPS has updated its prosecution guidance on football related offences which reconfirms that tragedy-related abuse can be prosecuted as a public order offence.
“Tragedy-related abuse is when fans sing, chant or gesture offensive messages about disasters or accidents involving players or fans,” added the spokesperson. “This can have a devastating impact on the bereaved and their communities.”
Meanwhile in July, English football’s governing body the FA announced new rules that included a section on tragedy chanting, saying anyone who commits this “vile form of abuse” could be banned from stadiums and arrested.
STATEMENT
“To challenge the totally unacceptable presence of football tragedy abuse, for season 2023/24, regulation changes and tough new measures have been introduced which will see people who are found to have committed offences face stadium bans and potential criminal prosecution.
“The issue is focused on offensive chanting, gesturing and displaying offensive messages based on football-related tragedies, which causes significant distress to the victims’ families, survivors and affected-club supporters.
“Football authorities, supporter groups and law enforcement organisations, including the police and CPS, have united to crack down on fans who participate in this vile form of abuse.
“In addition to bans and criminal sanctions, a range of in-stadium, in-classroom and online resources will be rolled out under the Love Football Protect the Game banner, to educate adults and children alike about the hurt tragedy chanting causes.
“Ground regulations have also been updated to incorporate references to tragedy chanting.”
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