IT HAS BEEN a refrain at Liverpool matches and events for 27 years: justice for the 96.
Today, after two inquiries and 28 years of fighting, that justice for 96 Liverpool fans killed at an FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough on 15 April 1989 came close to realisation.
Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service announced it has decided to bring charges against six people referred to it over the Hillsborough disaster.
Those charged are:
In 2016 news, a jury at the inquests into the deaths ruled that the 96 were unlawfully killed.
The jury also found that the behaviour of the fans did not cause or contribute to the disaster.
But, who were The 96?
Here is the list of those killed:
The youngest victim, he was a cousin of former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.
Went to the game along with her sister Sarah, who also died. The inquests heard they held on to each other as the disaster unfolde.
Keith’s mother told the inquest that she felt that had she and her husband not bought Keith a Liverpool season ticket, he would be safe.
“Of course I know that is not true,” said Mary Corrigan, “but it is there in the back of my mind.”
Graham Wright’s brother Stephen told the inquests that his younger brother was “always with him” and that he was active in karate until his death. He was friends with James Aspinall.
James Aspinall ‘s mother Margaret today said she was “so proud of her city” after being a leader of the justice fight for 27 years. She told a CNN documentary that James was “a wonderful son”.
Ian’s brother Joe was alongside him in the Leppings Lane end. He would survive and come home, Ian would not. His dad John became a tireless campaigner for justice for the Hillsborough victims. He died in 2013, however, after 24 years campaigning.
At the inquest, Peter’s family recalled a young man who loved Genesis and worked as a builder in London, before returning home.
Graham was a gas board engineer whose sister Sue Roberts called him a “protective big brother” and a “wonderful son”.
In the week after the tragedy, Paula’s brother Wally said “Liverpool was her life.” She “never tired of talking about football”.
Anthony was an unemployed father of three who travelled to the game with friends, who all survived. His mother told the inquests that he was “a sickly baby but pulled through everything that hit him” and grew into “a grand lad”.
Originally from Denmark, she travelled from London to the game with her 13-year-old son Daniel, who survived, and friends including fellow victim Marian McCabe. Her children were taken into care following her death.
The oldest victim, he travelled to the game with his son Gerard, who told the inquest his last words to his father were “you will be ok”.
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