A former editor of The Sun newspaper has claimed it never consciously undertook any wrongdoing in its reporting of the Hillsborough disaster.
Today’s verdict that cleared Liverpool FC fans of any part in the events, recording a verdict of unlawful killing on the deaths of the 96 supporters that perished in Sheffield 27 years ago.
Since 1989, The Sun has been actively boycotted on Merseyside for running the infamous headline ‘The Truth, which was published in the aftermath of Hillsborough, and made a series of smears that alleged Reds fans were to blame for the April 15 tragedy – claims which has since been emphatically disproved.
But Trevor Kavanagh, its former political editor, has launched an astonishing defence of his own conduct and that of the paper in the wake of today’s inquiry.
He refused to apologise for the inflammatory headline and claimed that the notorious paper had been misinformed by South Yorkshire Police.
“I’m not sorry at all. I didn’t have any involvement at all apart from to say that Downing Street had been told [the same thing],” he told the Guardian.
“We were clearly misled about the events and the authorities, including the police, actively concealed the truth.
“The impact on the reputation of the police service in general has been enormous and continuing and I think that’s a price that the whole of society is paying.”
Kavanagh also sought to defend Kelvin Mackenzie, his former colleague and editor of The Sun, who has been heavily criticised for writing a number of scathing attacks on Liverpool fans, whom he deemed responsible for the 1989 tragedy.
He added: “I don’t think Kelvin committed any crime and he has made his position abundantly clear many times.
“We have apologised many times and tried repeatedly to make amends.”