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Kelvin MacKenzie 'should apologise' for Hillsborough comments | Kelvin MacKenzie 'should apologise' for Hillsborough comments |
(about 9 hours later) | |
A Liverpool journalist has demanded an apology from ex-editor Kelvin MacKenzie for blaming reporters in the city for the Sun's Hillsborough coverage. | A Liverpool journalist has demanded an apology from ex-editor Kelvin MacKenzie for blaming reporters in the city for the Sun's Hillsborough coverage. |
The paper wrongly claimed that Liverpool fans "picked the pockets" of some of the 96 victims of the 1989 tragedy and urinated on medics. | The paper wrongly claimed that Liverpool fans "picked the pockets" of some of the 96 victims of the 1989 tragedy and urinated on medics. |
Mr MacKenzie told BBC Two's The Daily Politics that Liverpool journalists supplied the story. | |
The Mercury Press agency's editor Chris Johnson said he was consulting lawyers. | The Mercury Press agency's editor Chris Johnson said he was consulting lawyers. |
He has demanded an apology and retraction from Mr MacKenzie. | He has demanded an apology and retraction from Mr MacKenzie. |
'Absolutely insulted' | 'Absolutely insulted' |
Describing the coverage, Mr MacKenzie told The Politics Show: "That story came from a Liverpool news agency and Liverpool journalists." | Describing the coverage, Mr MacKenzie told The Politics Show: "That story came from a Liverpool news agency and Liverpool journalists." |
The publication of the story led to a widespread boycott of the newspaper in Liverpool. | The publication of the story led to a widespread boycott of the newspaper in Liverpool. |
An independent inquiry found there was no evidence to support the claims made in the Sun's Hillsborough coverage. | An independent inquiry found there was no evidence to support the claims made in the Sun's Hillsborough coverage. |
Mr Johnson said: "I feel slighted and absolutely insulted, not only for my agency, but for every journalist in Liverpool, and certainly for every freelance journalist in Liverpool." | Mr Johnson said: "I feel slighted and absolutely insulted, not only for my agency, but for every journalist in Liverpool, and certainly for every freelance journalist in Liverpool." |
He said his agency "absolutely categorically 100%" had nothing to do with the story and described Mr MacKenzie's comments as "vile allegations". | He said his agency "absolutely categorically 100%" had nothing to do with the story and described Mr MacKenzie's comments as "vile allegations". |
"I have no doubt whatsoever that the headline 'THE TRUTH" was created by somebody in the Sun office," said Mr Johnson. | "I have no doubt whatsoever that the headline 'THE TRUTH" was created by somebody in the Sun office," said Mr Johnson. |
"Where the elements of the story came from I don't know. | "Where the elements of the story came from I don't know. |
'Digging a hole' | 'Digging a hole' |
"My suspicion is that it came from the Sheffield end. Whether it was Sun staff or possibly other journalists working in association with them, I do not know. | "My suspicion is that it came from the Sheffield end. Whether it was Sun staff or possibly other journalists working in association with them, I do not know. |
"MacKenzie's digging a deeper hole for himself and he should jump into that hole so we can forget about him. | "MacKenzie's digging a deeper hole for himself and he should jump into that hole so we can forget about him. |
"I'm consulting my lawyers because I'm basically sick to the teeth of this. I want a retraction and an apology from him." | |
During the interview on The Daily Politics, he told presenter Andrew Neil that he "probably" did have regrets about the story. | |
He said: "If I could revisit Hillsborough, certainly I'd do it in a different way. I'd do it in the way that the other newspapers did." | He said: "If I could revisit Hillsborough, certainly I'd do it in a different way. I'd do it in the way that the other newspapers did." |
The Hillsborough Independent Panel, set up in 2009, is currently examining documents relating to the disaster. It is due to report its findings next year. | The Hillsborough Independent Panel, set up in 2009, is currently examining documents relating to the disaster. It is due to report its findings next year. |
The Cabinet Office has promised to release files relating to Margaret Thatcher and the disaster by June 2012 - if they have not already been released by the panel. | The Cabinet Office has promised to release files relating to Margaret Thatcher and the disaster by June 2012 - if they have not already been released by the panel. |
Ninety-six fans died and hundreds more were injured after being crushed on the steel-fenced terraces of Sheffield Wednesday's stadium, which was hosting an FA Cup semi-final. | Ninety-six fans died and hundreds more were injured after being crushed on the steel-fenced terraces of Sheffield Wednesday's stadium, which was hosting an FA Cup semi-final. |
The inquiry into the disaster led by Lord Chief Justice Taylor established the main cause was a failure of police crowd control. |
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