Hillsborough Officer Denies Propaganda Claim

A former senior police officer has denied being part of a "black propaganda unit" to blame Liverpool fans for the Hillsborough disaster.

Giving evidence at the inquests into the deaths of 96 supporters, Sir Norman Bettison faced questions about his role preparing evidence for South Yorkshire Police in the aftermath of the crush at the stadium.

Peter Wilcock QC, who represents the families of 75 of the victims, put it to Sir Norman that "in spite of your attempts to distance yourself over the last 26 years, your work on the Wain inquiry inherently involved attempting to blame Liverpool fans even when you personally knew they were not to blame".

The ex-officer responded: "Let me be clear ... I wasn't involved in some black propaganda unit to put the blame on fans."

At the time of the disaster in April 1989, Sir Norman was a Chief Inspector with South Yorkshire police.

He attended the match as a spectator, but within days was asked to join a team to form the police response to the tragedy.

He was asked if he knew about the lie told by match commander Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield to the FA in the minutes after the crush that fans had forced a gate, allowing some 2,000 more people to enter already overcrowded terraces.

In fact, Mr Duckenfield had given the order for the gate to be opened.

"I knew for sure about that lie," Sir Norman said, adding it was widely known at the time that Mr Duckenfield had lied.

Last week the inquests heard from John Barry, who was studying on the same business course as Sir Norman in 1989.

Mr Barry recalls a conversation in a bar when Sir Norman told him he had been asked by senior officers to "concoct a story that all of the Liverpool fans were drunk".

Asked if there was any reason for Mr Barry to make up his account, Sir Norman responded: "I think a lot of people, all of us, seek to be on the side of the angels and I think some people try harder than others."

After the Hillsborough disaster, Sir Norman went on to be promoted to Chief Constable of Merseyside Police then West Yorkshire Police. He resigned in 2012 amid claims about his role in the aftermath of the tragedy.

The inquests continue.