Hillsborough inquest: Ex-police chief denies plan to blame Liverpool fans for tragedy

It has been claimed Terry Wain told officers to find evidence of drunkenness

Former Chief Superintendent Terry Wain at the inquests (Rex)

A senior policeman has fought back over allegations he ordered officers to blame the Hillsborough tragedy on drunken, ticketless Liverpool fans, describing a junior colleague who made the claim against him as an “idiot.”

Former South Yorkshire Police Chief Superintendent Terry Wain, who denies the allegations, was facing questions at the inquests into the tragedy in Warrington from Jonathan Hough QC, counsel for the hearings.

After answering questions about Inspector Clive Davis, who made the claims at the inquests, Mr Wain turned to the barrister and exclaimed: “Is that it? Done?”

Leaning on his desk, with his voice rising, his face reddening, he said: “I feel angry, I do. I had 32 years of unblemished character and an idiot like that comes and destroys it.”

The Hillsborough disaster cost 96 Liverpool fans their lives (Getty) (Getty Images)

Mr Davis told the hearings in March that Mr Wain led a meeting two days after the disaster, saying the force intended to blame drunken and ticketless Liverpool supporters and asking officers to search the M62 for discarded beer cans.

Mr Wain denied such a meeting had taken place and said he was in his office in Rotherham that day.

Ninety six Liverpool fans died as a result of the crush at Sheffield Wednesday’s ground during an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest on 15 April 1989.

Mr Wain, who was not at the match, was tasked with writing a report for the South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable, Peter Wright, to be sent to the Taylor inquiry.

Balking at the mention of Clive Davis’s name, Mr Wain said: “I’d rather you didn’t mention him.”

But Mr Hough went on: “Mr Davis has given an account to the jury of you opening that meeting on 17 April by declaring the intention to place the blame for the disaster on drunken and ticketless Liverpool supporters.”

Mr Wain denied the meeting had taken place and said he was “absolutely” sure he was in Rotherham. Asked if he ever said such a thing, he replied, emphatically: “No, I did not.” When asked if he’d told the team to obtain photos of beer cans on the M62, he once again replied, “No, I did not.”

He said he was not aware of any grudge Mr Davis might have against him and said he didn’t know him.

Mr Wain admitted statements from South Yorkshire Police officers at the match were written on plain paper and they had taken down their own accounts. He agreed there was a process of editing to remove irrelevant material. At the time he had “no concerns” about the vetting process.

He said there was no deliberate decision to exclude from the report criticism about senior officers and no “deliberate misrepresentation”.

Mr Hough asked if the summary observations in the report were defensive of South Yorkshire Police rather than a neutral summary of facts. He said he agreed with that.

Asked whether he was aware of any officers expressing concerns about the process of amending and vetting reports, he replied, “At the time, no.”

Peter Wilcock QC, who represents 75 families, said: “Are you saying that it is ridiculous to suggest you did anything to blame Liverpool fans?”

“All I did was to reflect what was in the statements, nothing more,” Mr Wain replied. There were “one or two areas” of exaggeration in the report, he added.

The inquests continue.