Merseyside - Two members of Merseyside Police Authority resigned yesterday in protest at the new chief constable's links with the Hillsborough soccer disaster. Councillors Mr Frank Prendergast and Mr Dave Martin, both members of the board which appointed Mr Norman Bettison, said they did not know about his role in the investigation of the tragedy which killed 96 Liverpool football fans at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final.
Mr Bettison, a chief inspector with South Yorkshire Police at the time, was named in Parliament by Liverpool Garston Labour MP Ms Maria Eagle, as a member of the unit which allegedly tried to deflect blame for the tragedy away from police and on to fans.