article_snippet: The police chief on duty during the disaster today said that The police chief on duty during the Hillsborough disaster had never previously apologised for lying to officials because The police chief on duty during the Hillsborough disaster had 'never found an opportunity' to do so.
article_snippet: And The former officer denied taking part in a 'cover-up' designed to divert blame from the police by ascribing the disaster to Liverpool fans' bad behaviour.
article_snippet: Rajiv Menon QC, lawyer for the families of the victims who were killed in the opening minutes of the game between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest families, asked Rajiv Menon QC, lawyer for the victims' families why it took Rajiv Menon QC, lawyer for the victims' families 26 years to 'come clean' over Rajiv Menon QC, lawyer for the victims' families 'critical mistakes'.
article_snippet: Yesterday this court gave me the opportunity to sit here and apologise fully for the first time without fear of anybody misrepresenting what I was saying.'
article_snippet: Rajiv Menon QC, lawyer for the victims' families denied saying anything inaccurate to FA officials Graham Kelly and Glen Kirton, but confessed Rajiv Menon QC, lawyer for the victims' families had told a 'lie by omission' for failing to mention that Rajiv Menon QC, lawyer for the victims' families gave the order to open the gate, and added that it was Rajiv Menon QC, lawyer for the victims' families family who told Rajiv Menon QC, lawyer for the victims' families what Rajiv Menon QC, lawyer for the victims' families had done.
article_snippet: Rajiv Menon QC, lawyer for the victims' families said: 'I have spoken to my family, who are genuine people, and I have said I am troubled by this situation and my family, who are genuine people said to Rajiv Menon QC, lawyer for the victims' families, "Well you obviously lied because you didn't tell the whole truth.
article_snippet: "' Mr Duckenfield, who was promoted to be an area commander at South Yorkshire Police two weeks before the semi-final, told the jury that Rajiv Menon QC, lawyer for the victims' families was not a 'reasonably competent match commander' due to Rajiv Menon QC, lawyer for the victims' families lack of experience.
article_snippet: At one point Mr Menon put it to Mr Duckenfield that there had been a 'false narrative' after the disaster which sought to blame Liverpool fans for what had happened and conceal the truth about police failings.
article_snippet: Mr Menon then said to the former officer: 'That's not the way that a competent match commander behaves, is it Mr Duckenfield, lying to the chief executive of the Football Association when people are dying on the pitch feet away?'
article_snippet: Asked if he had always been consistent in he account of what he said in the control box, the former chief superintendent said: 'It may be that my recollections over 26 years, or what I have said about Mr Kelly, may vary, and, dare I say it, understandably.'
article_snippet: Mr Menon later asked: 'Your negligence caused disaster and the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans, didn't Your negligence?'
article_snippet: After leaving the ground and travelling to South Yorkshire Police headquarters on the evening of April 15, Mr Duckenfield said Mr Duckenfield was summoned to brief Chief Constable Peter Wright.
article_snippet: Mr Menon asked Mr Duckenfield how Chief Constable Peter Wright had reacted when Mr Duckenfield was informed that the head of the FA had been lied to.
highlights_snippet: Denies 'cover-up' designed to blame Liverpool fans for the disaster .