This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-england-merseyside-16110588
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Kelvin MacKenzie apologises for Hillsborough mistake | Kelvin MacKenzie apologises for Hillsborough mistake |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie has apologised for blaming reporters in Liverpool for the newspaper's Hillsborough coverage. | Former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie has apologised for blaming reporters in Liverpool for the newspaper'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. |
| On Thursday, Mr MacKenzie said Liverpool reporters supplied the story. | On Thursday, Mr MacKenzie said Liverpool reporters supplied the story. |
| But on Friday, he told the BBC he had got it wrong and that it had come from agencies in the Sheffield area. | But on Friday, he told the BBC he had got it wrong and that it had come from agencies in the Sheffield area. |
| He said: "Having just checked with the Sun's news editor at the time, it is clear that the story didn't come from the Liverpool agencies but came from agencies in the Sheffield area. | He said: "Having just checked with the Sun's news editor at the time, it is clear that the story didn't come from the Liverpool agencies but came from agencies in the Sheffield area. |
| "I apologise for getting it wrong but it was 21 years ago." | "I apologise for getting it wrong but it was 21 years ago." |
| 'Absolutely insulted' | |
| Speaking on BBC Two's Daily Politics on Thursday about the Sun's coverage, Mr MacKenzie said: "That story came from a Liverpool news agency and Liverpool journalists." | |
| Chris Johnson, editor of Mercury Press in Liverpool, later demanded an apology and said he was consulting his lawyers. | Chris Johnson, editor of Mercury Press in Liverpool, later demanded an apology and said he was consulting his lawyers. |
| He 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: "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". |
| When asked to respond to Mr Johnson's comments on Friday morning, Mr MacKenzie initially said he stood by the remarks and that Mr Johnson should check back through his files. | |
| But he later contacted BBC News to say his original remarks had been wrong. |