Hillsborough inquest: Ex-chief denies saying police tried to blame drunk fans

Sir Norman Bettison was chief inspector when 96 fans were fatally crushed

Sir Norman Bettison (left) arrives to give evidence at the inquests in Warrington yesterday (PA)

The most senior police officer to give evidence to the Hillsborough inquests has been confronted with claims that he confided in an acquaintance that his force was planning to "concoct a story that Liverpool fans were drunk".

Sir Norman Bettison, who was a South Yorkshire Police chief inspector at the time of the disaster on 15 April 1989 when 96 fans were fatally crushed at Sheffield Wednesday’s ground, has begun giving evidence to the new inquests.

He was the chief constable of West Yorkshire Police until announcing his resignation in 2012 amid public controversy about his role in the Hillsborough tragedy.

Sir Norman had previously been named in the Commons by Maria Eagle MP for allegedly being involved in a campaign to smear Liverpool fans in the aftermath of the disaster.

The inquest heard from John Barry, who was studying for an MBA with Sir Norman at the time of the tragedy. The police officer was studying for the qualification in his spare time, at his own expense.

Mr Barry said Sir Norman told him in a pub – the Fleur de Lys in Sheffield – that he had been asked by senior officers “to pull together South Yorkshire Police evidence for the inquiry”. During the alleged conversation in May 1989, Sir Norman is said to have told Mr Barry that the force was going to “try and concoct a story that Liverpool fans were drunk”.

Sir Norman denied saying those words as he gave evidence for the first time, telling the hearing that “some of the comments ascribed to me, I wouldn’t have made in a private or public situation.”

He added: “I don’t think precise words can be recalled after 26 years.”

Asked by Jonathan Hough QC, barrister for the inquests, if he had made the comments or used the word concoct, he said: “I did not say anything like that.”

“When I heard him [John Barry] give evidence he seemed to say he inferred that from what I was saying,” he said.

David Duckenfield, a newly-promoted chief superintendent and match commander on the day (Getty Images)

Earlier, Mr Barry said he was “stunned, staggered and shocked” by what Sir Norman had told him. A letter by Mr Barry about their alleged conversation was read out in the Commons in October 2012 by Ms Eagle. Sir Norman announced his resignation as chief constable the same week.

Sir Norman was off duty on the day of the disaster and watched the match as a spectator, but said he ended up working until 4am. When he returned to the police headquarters on the Monday morning, he said there was a “curious mood, more silence than conversation.”

Mark Ellaby, another student, told the inquest about a conversation around the same time during which Sir Norman said he was seconded to a team making sure the force “bore no blame” for the Hillsborough tragedy and “it was all the fault of drunken Liverpool supporters.”

Responding, Sir Norman described Mr Ellaby as a “passing acquaintance” and said he didn’t remember John Barry until he appeared on television. The former officer told the inquest that he believed Mr Ellaby’s evidence was “conflated” from two separate conversations. Neither student was “a friend nor a confidante” he said.

The inquests continue.

Key Police Figures

David Duckenfield, a newly-promoted chief superintendent and match commander on the day. He apologised to fans for the mistakes he made for the first time at the inquests. He acknowledged that his failure to close the tunnel was the direct cause of the deaths of 96 people.

Roger Marshall, a former superintendent who was in charge outside the Leppings Lane turnstiles, agreed his commanding officer, Duckenfield, told a “wicked lie” when he falsely accused supporters of forcing open a gate. Marshall asked for the gate to be opened as police had “lost control” of the crowd.

Terry Wain, a chief superintendent who wrote a report for Lord Justice Taylor, angrily denied claims he led a meeting to put the blame on drunk, ticketless Liverpool fans. He called an inspector who made the claim “an idiot”, but agreed the police attitude was “disgraceful”.

Donald Denton, a chief superintendent who oversaw the changing of officers’ accounts. He said statements were amended to remove hearsay, emotive language and anything confidential or privileged. He admitted evidence was removed which “kept in the dark” the Taylor inquiry.