SHEFFIELD’s former Conservative MP Sir Irvine Patnick has died, aged 83.
For 10-years, from 1987 to 1997, he was MP for Sheffield Hallam, now held by the Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg.
He served in Margaret Thatcher and John Major’s governments, when he was as the only Conservative MP in South Yorkshire. He was also a Conservative government whip.
Sir Irvine was vice-president of Sheffield’s Kingfield Synagogue, life president of Sheffield Jewish Representative Council and a former national vice-chairman of the Maccabi sports and youth organisation.
His family have issued a statement, saying: “Sir Irvine Patnick OBE, died peacefully on 30 December 2012, aged 83, in Sheffield.
“He was a much loved husband of Lynda and father of Suzanne and Matthew.
“He’ll be sadly missed by his brothers and by all all his family and friends.”
Sir Irvine was criticised in the Hillsborough Independent Panel’s report on the Hillsborough disaster, which confirmed him as the source for a story which smeared Liverpool fans after the disaster.
He subsequently apologised for his comments, saying he was “deeply and sincerely sorry” and insisted he had been given “wholly inaccurate” information by police officers.
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