A coroner has apologised to the family of Maddy Cusack for distress caused by a further delay to the inquest into the Sheffield United player’s deathThe case was adjourned on Monday until at least 29 June.
The midfielder, who played more than 100 games for the club, was found dead at her home in Derbyshire in September 2023, aged 27, and an inquest – delayed multiple times in 2025 – had been due to begin on Monday, but was adjourned after the family received 699 pages of new evidence from Sheffield United 10 days before Christmas. That was described by the family’s lawyers as “totally unacceptable, for a hearing due to start on 5 January”.
A lawyer representing Sheffield United said the club “rejects wholeheartedly any suggestion of non-compliance”. The coroner agreed that the club had complied with what had been asked of them chronologically.
The new date for the inquest may be pushed back further after Cusack’s former manager at Sheffield United, Jonathan Morgan, told the court he was unsure whether his wife had booked a holiday for early July, which would clash with some of the proposed dates. Morgan will be on a list of more than 20 people called to give evidence.
The coroner said Morgan, who appeared at Chesterfield town hall via video link, must contact her office within 24 hours to clarify his holiday dates and that he would need to provide evidence if any holiday had been booked. In the meantime a 29 June start date was set, with up to two weeks allocated to complete the inquest.
Morgan said he would be representing himself during the proceedings, despite repeatedly being reminded of offers of legal support and the options available to him, for example from a union such as the League Managers Association.
Dean Armstrong KC, representing the family remotely on a video call, accused Sheffield United “for reasons that are frankly beyond us” of ignoring their requests to meet a specific timeline despite repeated emails sent in autumn 2025, adding with regards to the receipt of 699 pages on 15 December: “The family found themselves, already at the most difficult time in their lives, having to go through material at Christmas – we regard that as unacceptable. It’s upsetting. It’s clearly had an impact on the family’s health.”
Joseph O’Brien KC, representing the club, rejected Armstrong’s words, saying via video: “His criticism of Sheffield United was wholly misplaced. We are very clear we have complied with everything that was required and within the spirit of trying to keep the hearing of 5 January as a live hearing.”
It was agreed on Monday that no evidence is to be submitted after a deadline of the middle of May, six weeks before the new date, in an attempt to avoid a repeat and further delays.
Armstrong described the delays as “extremely disappointing” because the “family are very keen to progress matters as soon as possible” and described it as a “hugely difficult time for them”.
The coroner, Sophie Cartwright, said sorry multiple times to the family for the timeline and turned directly to speak to the Cusack family, saying: “You have been in my thoughts, particularly over Christmas.”
