The match commander in charge of policing during the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 Liverpool fans were killed, has denied taking part in a "cover-up" that left fans facing the blame for decades after the tragedy.
Former Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield told an inquest into the deaths that there had been "no conspiracy" to hide the truth about senior officers' failings.
Giving evidence for a third day to an inquest jury in Warrington, Mr Duckenfield said he could not explain his decision not to admit to Football Association chief executive Graham Kelly that he had authorised an exit gate to be opened, allowing around 2,000 fans into already overcrowded pens.
The 70-year-old former senior officer was watched by around 150 relatives of the victims, who sat listening to charged exchanges as the witness was questioned closely about his account of events on the day of the disaster.
Mr Duckenfield apologised unreservedly to the families of the victims on Wednesday after admitting a "terrible lie" and misleading others minutes after the disaster unfolded on April 15, 1989.
Answering questions by Rajiv Menon QC, representing the families of 75 Hillsborough victims, Mr Duckenfield said that at the time he spoke to Mr Kelly in the police control box, he was concentrating on mounting a rescue operation.
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.
After pausing to consider his answer, Mr Duckenfield replied: "I disagree. There was no conspiracy as far as I am concerned."
Rejecting claims that he suspected there were fatalities by the time he spoke to Mr Kelly, Mr Duckenfield added: "I don't think I was involved in any cover-up whatsoever.
"My main objective was a rescue operation and to do the very best I could for all concerned. It was chaotic, hectic, stressful."
After claiming that no one in the court room who would understand the position he found himself in, Mr Duckenfield was asked why he had concealed the truth from Mr Kelly.
"Sir, I said yesterday, I don't know," Mr Duckenfield responded.
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?"
Mr Duckenfield answered: "Sir, under normal circumstances, as I have said, outside in the street or in an office, it is not the normal way you would expect.
"But we are not talking about normal circumstances, we are talking about a massive tragedy and me doing my best under very difficult circumstances."
It was then put to Mr Duckenfield that he had made a catastrophic mistake in failing to close off a leading tunnel underneath Hillsborough's West Stand to the Leppings Lane terracing.
Mr Duckenfield told Mr Menon he had admitted his failings to the inquest and had always been "honest and frank" about his conversation with Mr Kelly.
Asked if he had always been consistent in his account of what he said in the control box, the 70-year-old 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."
Mr Duckenfield, facing hours of close questioning, denied that his memory only faded when it "suited him". And there were audible groans from relatives of the 96 when he said he suffered post traumatic stress disorder.
And while he accepted his mistakes contributed to the tragedy he said he did not "come clean" for 26 years because he was, "in denial" and maintained "many people" contributed to the disaster.
Mr Duckenfield admitted at the inquests on Wednesday that he was wrong to open exit gates allowing thousands of extra fans into already packed terraces and not taking action to block a tunnel to prevent the crush on the central pens.
Mr Duckenfield gave the order to open Gate C at 2:52 p.m. allowing an estimated 2,000 fans in. Many headed straight for a tunnel leading directly to the already packed central pens behind the goal.
Ninety-six Liverpool fans died in the ensuing crush minutes later on the Leppings Lane terrace of Sheffield's Hillsborough ground as the FA Cup semifinal against Nottingham Forest kicked off on April 15, 1989.
Mr Menon asked the witness after admitting mistakes as the top police officer at the worst sporting disaster in British football history, why it had taken him so long to admit it.
Mr Duckenfield said: "For a period of time, I ask for no pity, no sympathy because my difficulties do not compare to those of the families, I was possibly in denial and I never found a venue or opportunity where I could meet someone and speak to them, honestly and openly and assured that my thoughts and feelings would be reported fairly and 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."
Mr Menon said if the families had not pursued, a "courageous and relentless" campaign resulting in these new inquests, the truth would not be known.
Mr Duckenfield said out of "respect for the dignity of the families and the deceased," he had not spoken about his responsibility for the disaster before.
But Mr Menon said some relatives of the deceased were now themselves dead, and asked if the witness understood how "upsetting and infuriating" to hear his words now, which were "too little, too late". "Sir, I can accept that some will have that point of view," Mr Duckenfield replied.
Mr Menon continued: "Do you accept these mistakes led to overcrowding, crushing, injury and deaths in the central pens?"
Mr Duckenfield replied: "Today sir, 26 years on, and with hindsight, the mistakes I made that day were a contributory factor."
He added: "I did my best under very trying circumstances. Sadly, my best was not good enough."
The witness has told the jury he was a "brand new" chief superintendent with very limited experience of policing football matches.
Mr Menon asked if, as match commander, he was simply incompetent.
"Sir I will leave it to others to make that decision based on the evidence," the witness replied.
Mr Menon continued: "Your negligence caused disaster and the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans, didn't it?"
Mr Duckenfield replied: "I would not use the word negligence. Mistake, oversight. Sir, I did not foresee the consequence."
Mr Menon said that the former officer's failure to close the tunnel before opening the gates was a, "blunder of the first magnitude." Mr Duckenfield replied: "Sir, I can't deny it."
He added: "I'm not making excuses, I have nothing to cover up, I have put my hands up and admitted my failings and I will continue to do so."