Patnick says sorry for Hillsborough

The former Conservative MP for Sheffield Hallam who was named as a source behind The Sun's coverage of the Hillsborough tragedy has apologised for his role in the scandal.

Sir Irvine Patnick was involved in the cover-up that suggested fans at the ground were to blame for what happened.

He says he had been given "wholly inaccurate" information by some members of hte police and was "appalled" at the extent of the cover-up surrounding the disaster.

But the former Tory MP said he "totally" accepted responsibility for repeating the information.

In a statement issued through the Conservative Party he said:

The 82-year-old was named by the Hillsborough Independent Panel as one of the sources who briefed journalists that Liverpool fans were "drunk and agresssive" and forced entry into the ground.

After the information about Sir Irvine Patnick's involvement emerged Labour MP John Mann has called for his knighthood to be removed.