Ex-MP Involved In Hillsborough Smear Dies

31 December 2012, 10:18 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Former Conservative MP Sir Irvine Patnick who helped smear Liverpool fans after the 1989 Hillsborough disaster has died aged 83

 Patnick, who was a source for a Sun story criticising the supporters' behaviour in the tragedy, died aged 83, the BBC said. He was the MP for Sheffield Hallam from 1987 to 1997.

A successful businessman before becoming an MP, he was knighted in 1980.

There had been calls for him to be stripped of his knighthood since his role in The Sun's coverage of the disaster was made clear by the Hillsborough Independent Panel in September.

Amid widespread revulsion at the police cover-up which sought to shift the blame for the tragedy to the fans, Sir Irvine said in September he was "deeply and sincerely sorry'' about his role.

He said he had passed on police information that was "inaccurate, misleading and plain wrong''.

Ninety-six Liverpool fans died in the crush at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium during the 1989 FA Cup semi-final with Nottingham Forest.

A statement issued by his family, said:
"Sir Irvine Patnick OBE, died peacefully on 30 December 2012, aged 83, in Sheffield.

He was a much loved husband of Lynda and father of Suzanne and Matthew.

He'll be sadly missed by his brothers and by all his family and friends.''