Hillsborough Disaster Smear MP Dies (News Bite)

	Hillsborough Disaster Smear MP Dies (News Bite) Former Conservative MP Sir Irvine Patnick who helped smear Liverpool fans after the 1989 Hillsborough disaster has died aged 83, according to reports. Sir Irvine Patnick, who represented Sheffield Hallam between 1987 and 1997, was a source for a Sun story criticising the supporters' behaviour in the tragedy. He was knighted in 1994 but faced calls this year for him to be stripped of his title after he was heavily criticised in the Hillsborough Independent Panel's report on the stadium disaster. A statement, which the BBC said had been 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." Sir Irvine questioned the behaviour of Liverpool fans in the Commons just two days after the tragedy. He was later named by the Hillsborough Independent Panel as one of the sources who briefed journalists that those involved were "drunk and aggressive" and forced entry into the football ground, contributing to the deadly crush. The panel found the origin of The Sun's story, along with negative coverage in other newspapers, was a Sheffield-based news agency, which had been briefed by officers from South Yorkshire Police, a local Police Federation spokesman and Sir Irvine. Their allegations were reported by White's News Agency and were based on meetings with police officers and <b>...</b>	From: Mark Stothard Views: 1 0 ratings
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