Liars should not have knighthoods

Hillsborough families round on former police chief

- BY PHIL CARDY

THERE are growing calls for ex-Merseyside Chief Constable Norman Bettison to be stripped of his knighthood over his handling of the Hillsborough disaster.

Families and politicians made the demand after a damning report said he would have faced gross negligence charges over the 1989 disaster, which claimed 97 lives, had he still been a serving officer.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct’s €170million investigation found 12 officers would have faced gross misconduct proceedings for fundamental failures on the day and blaming fans in the aftermath. But no one will face disciplinary action because none are still serving.

The tragedy happened as Liverpool faced Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semifinal on April 15, 1989.

Police opened an exit gate to the ground to alleviate crowding outside the Sheffield Wednesday stadium.

But they failed to direct fans away from a tunnel leading to the central pens, where the crush happened.

As people lay dying, South Yorkshire Police claimed Liverpool supporters caused the disaster as they arrived in huge numbers late, drunk and without tickets.

MISLEADING