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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Kelvin MacKenzie apologises for Hillsborough mistake | Kelvin MacKenzie apologises for Hillsborough mistake |
| (about 1 hour 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. | |
| 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. | |
| "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' | '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." | 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. | 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. |
| 'Salt into wound' | |
| But he later contacted BBC News to say his original remarks had been wrong. | But he later contacted BBC News to say his original remarks had been wrong. |
| Mr Johnson said: "I remain shocked and disgusted that Kelvin MacKenzie was prepared to trot out a complete lie that defamed my agency and rubbed more salt into the wound in Liverpool - on top of damage he had already caused in 1989." | |
| He said he wanted a direct apology for both the agency and the people of Liverpool. | |
| "As for the matter of damages, I will leave that to the lawyers," he said. | |
| He said the agency had received abusive phone calls and emails, following Mr MacKenzie's comments. |