The families of those killed at the Hillsborough disaster have condemned Norman Bettison following claims that he was the victim of a witch-hunt.
Bettison’s book on the 1989 tragedy where 96 Liverpool fans lost their lives is set to be released today despite an ongoing investigation by the police watchdog.
He is currently the subject of a probe by the Independent Police Complaints Commission amid allegations of an alleged cover-up by South Yorkshire Police.
The 60-year-old was involved in the force’s response to the loss of life at Hillsborough, which was ruled as unlawful killing earlier this year.
In ‘Hillsborough Untold’, Bettison claims that his version of events could be presented as his defence should criminal charges be brought against him.
“This book might be the only way in which my own account of the Hillsborough aftermath will ever be heard,” he wrote.
“By the Crown Prosecution Service as well as by the public.”
Bettison, who later served as chief constable of Merseyside Police, also titles one of his chapters ‘In the shadow of Salem’, alluding to the 17th century American town which put woman on trial for alleged witchcraft.
Margaret Aspinall, chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, lost her 18-year-old son James in the crush on the Leppings Lane terrace and has led the condemnation of the supposed tell-all book.
“I am not surprised that Bettison has written a book, because he is making it all about him again, painting himself as a victim,” she told the Guardian.
“Ninety-six people died that day, hundreds of survivors were injured and traumatised, we finally had a jury establish the truth this year, and we are still living with the torture of it.
“We do want Bettison to tell his story – the truth, to the IPCC.”