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JAMES Murdoch today offered a 'full apology' for The Sun's coverage of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster - and refused to rule out closure of the newspaper should it be implicated in the phone hacking scandal.

The News International chairman was appearing before the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee for the second time.

Steve Rotheram, MP for Liverpool Walton, asked Mr Murdoch: "Is it not the case that you've failed to show the urgency or the will to deal with unethical practices at News International because, quite frankly, successive chief executives since 1989 have believed that they could do whatever they wanted and get away with it?"

Mr Rotheram followed up with: "Do you understand the significance of the date I gave - 1989?"

Mr Murdoch said: "I think I know where you're going. Are you referring to the Hillsborough coverage in The Sun?"

"Of course I am, absolutely," said Mr Rotheram. "That was when The Sun newspaper published lies about the Hillsborough disaster under the banner headline 'The Truth' and the question I'd like you to answer is - did the fact that The Sun got away with telling outrageous lies in 1989 lead News International into believing they could do whatever they wanted without reproach?"

Mr Murdoch said: "I'd like to add my full apology to the wrong coverage of that affair. I'd like to add that voice to successive editors of The Sun and chief executives of News International who since that instance have apologised.

"It was 22 years ago and I was far away and a much younger person...but I've since looked at it, I'm aware of the concerns and the hurt that it caused and it's something that we're very sorry for and I am as well."

Mr Rotheram asked whether The Sun could be closed like the News of the World was back in July if evidence of phone hacking was found.

"I shouldn't rule any corporate reaction to behaviour of wrongdoing out, that'll be a decision taken at the time given whatever is out there," Mr Murdoch said.

"It's important not to prejudge any outcomes from these investigations.

"They're important police investigations and important internal investigations that we are pro-actively pursuing to make sure that our papers can be as good as they can be - and that they can keep the trust of their readership and continue to perform that important role that I believe they have in their communities."

*Click here to watch Steve Rotheram MP question James Murdoch over The Sun's Hillsborough coverage