News International's executive chairman James Murdoch has apologised for the The Sun's "wrong" coverage of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.

The newspaper, which is boycotted in the majority of Merseyside, accused supporters of wrongdoing during the incident at Hillsborough stadium which resulted in the death of 96 Liverpool fans after a huge crush in the Leppings Lane end.

Murdoch offered his regrets after being probed by Liverpool Walton MP Steve Rotheram in the hearing led by the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee regarding the News of the World phone-hacking scandal today.

"I would like to add my full apology for the wrong coverage of that affair," said Murdoch. "I would like to add my voice to the successive editors of The Sun and chief executives of News International who since that incident have apologised.

"It was wrong to do so. It was 22 years ago and I was far away and a much younger person and had no involvement or proximity to it, but I have since looked at it and I am aware of the concerns and the hurt it caused and it is something we are very sorry for, and I am as well."

The government will disclose all files relating to the Hillsborough disaster after a debate in the Houses of Commons last month.