A coroner has apologised to the family of Sheffield United player Maddy Cusack after they received 699 pages of new evidence just before Christmas – less than a month before the scheduled start of an inquest into her death.
Ms Cusack’s family barrister told a pre-inquest hearing on Monday that the release of such a substantial volume of evidence from her club, Sheffield United, on December 16 was ‘totally unacceptable’ and left her parents and siblings ‘distressed.’
With the coroner’s office closed during the Christmas period, the Cusacks were left with just days to question any aspects of the new evidence, ahead of the anticipated January 5 start of proceedings. As a result, those proceedings have been adjourned.
Dean Armstrong KC said: ‘The family have made it clear through me that it is extremely disappointing that the inquest has had to be vacated. Throughout these proceedings, particular in relation to Sheffield United, we have been sending emails relating to disclosure [of information] but nothing has been forthcoming.
‘On December 16, 699 pages were received. In these circumstances, the family find themselves, in the most difficult time of their life, having to deal with 700 pages of material on the week before Christmas. This has had a serious effect on them.’
But Sheffield United barrister Joseph O’Brien KC, challenged the family’s claim, insisting that Ms Cusack’s club had complied.
A coroner has apologised to the family of Maddy Cusack (above) after they received 699 pages of new evidence just before Christmas, leading to a delay to the inquest into her death
Cusack, who was Sheffield United Women’s vice-captain, was found dead at her home in September 2023 (pictured above – fans pay tribute to Cusack in September 2025)
He said: ‘We reject wholeheartedly any suggestion of non-compliance with orders made by the court. We are very, very clear we have complied with everything in a way that keeps the hearing on course. The suggestion that we have in some way have contributed to the delay is entirely without merit.’
Ms Cusack, Sheffield United Women’s vice-captain, was found dead at her home in Derbyshire in September 2023. Several of her former teammates have described how her death came during a period of malign treatment of her by the club’s then manager Jonathan Morgan.
Morgan, who no longer has a role in football having been sacked by the club in February 2024, denies any wrongdoing. He says he has been the victim of a ‘witch hunt’ in relation to Ms Cusack’s death.
Though the family had anticipated that all evidence would be lodged by late November 28, the Derbyshire coroner Sophie Cartwright KC agreed with the club that an early December deadline had actually been set.
Further delays were caused by the coroner’s office staff taking time to redact new documents, some of which relate to Sheffield United’s safeguarding policy. ‘I note the impact that had on the family and I apologise,’ the coroner said.
It became clear at Monday’s hearing that Morgan is insisting on representing himself at the inquest, which will potentially mean the Cusack family being cross-examined by him if they testify.
Ms Cartwright encouraged him to seek legal representation – a course of action which would prevent this ordeal for the family.
She asked him: ‘Are you aware of significance of the issues raised?’ She also reminded him that the League Managers Association could provide legal representation. But Morgan insisted: ‘No I will represent myself.’
Jonathan Morgan, Cusack’s manager at the time of her death, is set to appear at the inquest
Asked by the coroner if he could confirm that he would be available if the delayed inquest were scheduled for June 29 of this year, Morgan said that he would have to consult with his wife as they were planning a holiday in July.
Morgan, who has criticised the selection of witnesses for the inquest, also encouraged the coroner to seek one of his former Sheffield United coaches, also since released by the club, to testify at the inquest.
Morgan said: ‘He was at every training session up unto July would be another witness who would have seen anything. Is it worth trying to get him from a witness point of view?’
The coroner said that attempts to reach that coach by email and phone had so far failed.
