Former Chief Denies Hillsborough Meeting Claim

A former police chief has denied attending a meeting where a senior colleague allegedly suggested that fans should be blamed for the Hillsborough disaster.

Sir Norman Bettison, who was a chief inspector with South Yorkshire police at the time of the tragedy, said claims that he had been there were untrue.

Asked if he had any idea why his colleague would not be telling the truth, he replied: "None whatsoever."

Sir Norman was giving evidence to the inquests into the deaths of 96 Liverpool football supporters at the 1989 FA cup semi-final in Sheffield.

In March, former police inspector Clive Davis told the hearing that senior officers went to a meeting at force headquarters on the Monday after the disaster.

He claimed that those attending were told by chief superintendent Terry Wain that police "were going to put the blame for this disaster where it belongs - on the drunken, ticketless Liverpool fans".

But, on the second day of his evidence to the inquests, Sir Norman said that Mr Wain "never said anything that resembled those remarks".

Inquest barrister Jonathan Hough asked: "What became your view of Inspector Davis as he worked with you?"

Sir Norman replied: "A very intelligent person."

Mr Hough: "An honest man?"

Sir Norman: "My response is going to be coloured by the evidence that I have read that Mr Davis gave to this inquest."

Mr Hough said: "Before you heard anything about that, would you have taken him to be an honest man?"

Sir Norman said: "I would have taken him to be an honest man."

On Thursday, Sir Norman denied telling fellow members on a management course he attended that South Yorkshire police were planning to blame "drunken" Liverpool fans for the tragedy.

He told the inquests' jury that he was aware that police officers' statements about Hillsborough were "amended" to take out comment, but could not remember being the person who officers were advised to go to with any concerns they had about such alterations.

The inquests continue.