Hillsborough inquest verdicts: South Yorkshire reaction

Here are some of the main points raised in what's been a momentus day for Liverpool campaigners and a very difficult day for authorities in South Yorkshire    

• Police errors also added to a dangerous situation at the Liverpool v Nottingham Forest FA Cup semi-final on 15 April 1989
• Failures by commanding officers caused a crush on the terraces
• There were mistakes in the police control box over the order to open exit gates
• South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable David Crompton said the force "got the policing...catastrophically wrong" and said the force "unequivocally" accepts the "unlawful killing" conclusions

Details of how the days events unfolded and resulted in the biggest sporting disaster the country's ever seen:

Here are some of the main points raised in what's been a momentus day for Liverpool campaigners and a very difficult day for authorities in South Yorkshire  

• The 96 football fans who died as a result of the crush at the Hillsborough stadium were unlawfully killed, the inquests jury concluded
• Match commander Ch Supt David Duckenfield was "responsible for manslaughter by gross negligence" due to a breach of his duty of care, the jury also found
• Prime Minister David Cameron said the inquests provided "official confirmation" that fans were "utterly blameless". Supporters were also exonerated by the jury
• Victims' relatives have called for the immediate resignation of South Yorkshire's chief constable and head of Yorkshire Ambulance Service. 

Trevor Hicks lost his two teenage daughters, Sarah: 

Trevor HicksCopyright: Trevor Hicks

And Vicki, in the‪ #‎Hillsborough‬ disaster. 

Trevor HicksCopyright: Trevor Hicks

He was involved in desperate efforts on the pitch to save his girls and since that terrible day, he's campaigned for the truth:  

It's been described as "the greatest injustice ever".

The longest inquest in legal history has finally given justice to the 96 fans who perished at Hillsborough.

We're live at the stadium in Sheffield this evening for a very special edition of BBC Look North.

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The disaster was 27 years ago and it's taken decades of campaigning to get to the truth and to reveal the failings of the emergency services. We now know that there was a cover up involving senior police officers.

More on the verdicts, the cover-ups and all the analysis, this evening from 18:30 on BBC1. 

Inquests into the 96 football fans who died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster have concluded they were unlawfully killed, with the jury finding match commander - former Ch Supt David Duckenfield - "responsible for manslaughter by gross negligence" due to a breach of his duty of care.  

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Mr Duckenfield (pictured below in 1989) said in the pressure of the day he froze and did not consider the consequences of his actions.

"I think it's fair to say that it is arguably one of the biggest regrets of my life, that I did not foresee where fans would go when they came in through the gates," he said.

He also admitted to a "terrible lie". "Everybody knew the truth, the fans and police knew the truth that we'd opened the gates," he said.  

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When asked if his "negligence" caused the disaster he told the inquest: "I wouldn't use the word negligence sir. Mistake. Oversight... I did my very best on the day."  

Read more about his role on the day, here.

The Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign (OTJC) have released a statement paying tribute to the dedication and tireless commitment of the 'formidable' Hillsborough campaigners. 

They've said the victory of Hillsborough campaigners has motivated them further to demand a full public inquiry into the policing at Orgreave.

About 10,000 miners and 5,000 police officers were involved in the confrontation at Orgreave on 18 June 1984, known as the Battle of Orgreave.  

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Quote Message: I am overjoyed that justice has finally been done for the Hillsborough families. The verdicts demonstrate that with the determination and public support campaigners can overturn miscarriages of justice. The verdicts will spur on the OTJC and its demand for a full public inquiry into the policing at Orgreave on 18 June 1984." from Joe Rollin OTJC Chair

I am overjoyed that justice has finally been done for the Hillsborough families. The verdicts demonstrate that with the determination and public support campaigners can overturn miscarriages of justice. The verdicts will spur on the OTJC and its demand for a full public inquiry into the policing at Orgreave on 18 June 1984."

Sheffield City Council has released the following statement following the Hillsborough inquests:  

Quote Message: We welcome the conclusion of the inquests with the announcement of the jury’s formal findings. I very much hope that these findings will bring some peace to the families of the 96 people who tragically died that day. The fifteenth of April 1989 is a dark day in the history of both Sheffield and Liverpool and we are truly sorry for the losses the families have endured. As always our thoughts and sympathies are with them above all. We have always accepted and continue to accept our errors in the safety certification of Hillsborough Stadium in 1989. We unreservedly apologised for those failings and we repeat that apology.” from John Mothersole Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council

We welcome the conclusion of the inquests with the announcement of the jury’s formal findings. I very much hope that these findings will bring some peace to the families of the 96 people who tragically died that day. The fifteenth of April 1989 is a dark day in the history of both Sheffield and Liverpool and we are truly sorry for the losses the families have endured. As always our thoughts and sympathies are with them above all. We have always accepted and continue to accept our errors in the safety certification of Hillsborough Stadium in 1989. We unreservedly apologised for those failings and we repeat that apology.”

Following the verdicts today, people have been leaving these tributes for the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster at the football ground in Sheffield.

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South Yorkshire Chief Constable David Crompton said: "Very many lessons have been learned in the way major sporting events are policed."  

The jury have returned to the court for concluding remarks and coroner Sir John Goldring has told them their "commitment and diligence has been remarkable".

It prompted standing applause from people in the public gallery.

Prime Minister David Cameron has said the findings of the inquests were "official confirmation that Liverpool fans were utterly blameless" for the disaster.

He earlier called it a "landmark day" that "provides long overdue justice".

The man in charge of the criminal inquiry into the Hillsborough disaster has said his "sole focus" is now on completing the investigation, hopefully by the end of the year.

Assistant Commissioner Jon Stoddart, who is leading Operation Resolve, said his investigators had supported Coroner Sir John Goldring by providing him with thousands of documents, witness statements and reports alongside the criminal investigation.

He said the Crown Prosecution Service will then consider the evidence and decide whether any individual or organisation should face criminal prosecution.

Following the verdicts at the Hillsborough inquest, you've been sharing some of your thoughts on our Facebook page:

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Quote Message: Justice" from Leonora Ann Richardson

Justice"

Quote Message: The people that ordered the cover up should face prosecution." from Jason Paul Lawrence

The people that ordered the cover up should face prosecution."

Quote Message: So glad they got the justice but how terrible it's been having to wait for 27 years to get the right outcome. May all the 96 now rest in peace. You'll never be forgotten xx." from Emm Watson

So glad they got the justice but how terrible it's been having to wait for 27 years to get the right outcome. May all the 96 now rest in peace. You'll never be forgotten xx."

Quote Message: 27 years before they had justice from Ruth Heggarty

27 years before they had justice

Quote Message: Bet not one copper is ever jailed for it." from Mark Conner

Bet not one copper is ever jailed for it."

I'm at Hillsborough football ground this afternoon, where tributes have been left in memory of the 96 who were 'unlawfully killed'.

Barry Devonside, whose son Christopher died in the disaster, told a press conference with the families that South Yorkshire Police "tried to deflect blame" onto supporters and "any other convenient organisation".  

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Stephen Wright, whose brother Graham was one of the 96, said today's conclusions "put the serious failures" of the police "centre stage", saying primary responsibility "lies at their door... and in particular at the feet of Mr Duckenfield".

He said police legal teams continued to pursue "the denials of the past, blaming mythical, late, drunken ticketless fans for the deaths of their loved ones," and called for the immediate resignation of Chief Constable David Crompton.

Jurors at the Hillsborough inquest have reached a majority 7 - 2 verdict that the 96 were unlawfully killed.

There have been calls for those responsible to now be brought to justice.  

Including this from The Times' chief football writer: