Justice at last, but the city of Liverpool always knew the real truth

On a historic day for Liverpool Football Club the connotation of four words were changed forever: ‘Justice for the 96.’

The statement was once a dismayed reaction to an abhorrent cover up. It was like a silent scream at first, eventually rising to a thunderous rallying cry that could no longer be ignored by the country’s lawmakers. Now, those words simply read as fact.

Justice has finally prevailed for the 96 supporters who tragically lost their lives on a sunny April day in Sheffield 27 years ago. They were the victims of negligence that fateful afternoon and in the days and years that have followed the path to the truth was caught in a web of lies.

As local Labour MP, Steve Rotheram put it in his speech during the 2011 Hillsborough debate in the House of Commons: “a botched inquest, a flawed inquiry, a farcical review of evidence and a system that worked against, instead of for, the families, have left a bitter taste."

After so many years of false hope and bureaucratic blockades the truth has finally been officially recognised. The real truth. It is unquestionably a landmark moment. The relief witnessed outside court on Tuesday afternoon was tangible as the raw emotion of the families’ reaction was captured by the media. It was mirrored across homes in Liverpool.

The heartfelt rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ will linger long in the memory just like a hard-fought victory on the pitch. It’s been a long journey to get here. One of the greatest injustices of modern times has finally been put right.

But it’s not over just yet. The fans’ behaviour did not contribute to the disaster and those in charge need to face up to what's coming. They need to be held accountable for gross negligence. Attention will now turn to the Crown Prosecution Service and whether criminal charges are brought. Only then will the final chapter of this tragic story come to a close.

On Merseyside the verdict is merely a recognition of what we’ve all known for decades; the true timeline of events. The communities across the area have always known. Most people knew someone who had been affected by the tragedy, whether they had lost a loved one, survived the crush or simply been fortunate enough to be in another part of the ground.

The stories you heard simply did not add up with the version put forward by the powers that be. At first, those that had survived and witnessed a scene of sheer horror were scandalously cast as perpetrator. This perception may not have lingered long across the media landscape, but the misguided and irresponsible reporting by one publication in particular, muddied the view of the rest of the nation for far too long.

Over the years, the details of official findings have always been questioned because they simply did not add up. If you spent time listening to accounts of the day and reading the official reports, you felt a feeling of unease. It was obvious something was greatly amiss, and yet not enough people across the country were aware of it.

The authorities wanted to be protected. No one wanted to accept blame for the loss of life. Instead, it was shamelessly passed to those that had arrived at Hillsborough with the sole purpose of trying to cheer their team to Wembley.

Tuesday’s verdict was a victory for the city of Liverpool, the football club, the supporters and the families of the victims. Most importantly it was a triumph for the memory of 96 people who went to a football match and never came home.

The collective number will be forever associated with Hillsborough, but they were all individuals who had hopes and dreams ended all too prematurely. Their memory was tarnished by lies for far too long. That’s another tragedy of that afternoon that all too often gets lost amidst court hearings and the tawdry tale of the cover up.

The strength of their families and those that have dedicated their lives to the fight for justice have been nothing short of extraordinary. There are no words to express the sheer determination and spirit they showed as they refused to give up. The only thing that is perhaps even more extraordinary is how such a despicable twisting of the timeline was allowed to happen in the first place.

Today, this surely couldn’t happen. Technology and social media has advanced to a point where the masses have a voice that can't go unheard. The stories of the fans would have been voiced. Paramedics and shocked police officers would have been able to reveal their true version of events in a tweet.

Back then those in power could control and manipulate. Stories were altered and concerns were hushed making it a battle against all the odds. On the pitch, Liverpool have a habit of triumphing in the face of adversity and the fans always play a role. This has been the case with this 27-year fight.

It’s something of a cliché, but there is no doubt this is one of the greatest victories in Liverpool FC’s history. Rights have been wronged and the world now knows the truth.

It’s a time to reflect and remember that those who lost their lives were football supporters just like us. It could have happened to any one of us. It should never have just been about Liverpool fans and the families of the victims fighting for justice – but supporters of the game as a whole.

Gross errors were made and it could have happened to any follower of any team. Now that the truth is on record, it will surely never be allowed to happen ever again and the 96 can finally rest in peace.

Here’s to those innocent supporters no longer with us who finally have justice.

You'll Never Walk Alone.