Freedom of Liverpool for the 96

The 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster have received the Freedom of the City of Liverpool in an emotional “bittersweet” ceremony.

Families of those who lost their lives in Britain’s worst sporting tragedy on April 15 1989 collected a specially designed scroll and a unique medal with the name of their loved one inscribed on it.

It was the first time the city has posthumously awarded its highest civic honour.

Also receiving the Freedom of the City at St George’s Hall from the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Roz Gladden, were Professor Phil Scraton, who led the research by the Hillsborough Independent Panel, former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish and his wife, Marina.

Each family member who picked up their award was greeted with rapturous applause, as were the Dalglishes, but the biggest cheer of the evening was reserved for Professor Scraton, whose tireless campaigning since the tragedy eventually led to the fresh inquests into the deaths, the unlawful killing verdicts from the jury in Warrington and the ongoing criminal investigation.

Margaret Aspinall, chair of the Hillsborough …

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