Lawyers acting for the relatives of the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster have said the jury’s conclusions had completely vindicated the bereaved families' tireless 27-year fight for justice.
The inquest's jury concluded that the 96 Liverpool fans that died at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final were unlawfully killed.
Addressing the media outside the specially-built inquest courtroom, the families’ lead lawyer, Marcia Willis-Stewart, said the two-year inquest had brought significant progress on the "journey to expose the truth" about the events of 15 April 1989.
The father of teenage sisters Sarah and Vicki Hicks, who died at Hillsborough, said campaigners had done their job and would now keep a close eye on the work of the Crown Prosecution Service.
Wearing a badge bearing the number "96" on the lapel of his suit, Trevor Hicks said: "We’ve known all along what happened. Obviously it’s took [sic] us 20-odd years to get here."
Referring to the specific finding that the victims of the disaster were unlawfully killed, he added: "I have to own up and say I was even doubtful we'd get over the line on question six but we have."
Asked about how he felt after the finding, Mr Hicks replied: "I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, to be fair."
Barry Devonside, who lost his only son Christopher, 18, in the Hillsborough disaster, said he had "dreamt" of the moment a jury decided the 96 victims were unlawfully killed.
Mr Devonside, who attended every day of the inquest, said: "Today we gained the confidence from the jury that what we’ve tried to do for 27 years is to bring justice for those who never went home.
"I never thought in my wildest dreams that we would get this decision. I always hoped and dreamt that we would get this decision. I'm glad we did. We did our best – we couldn’t do any more."
He said the families had been "determined to battle" on over the years despite the many knock-backs.
Hillsborough victims' families sing "You'll never walk alone" outside the court after the inquest.https://t.co/oJlcm1fHQM
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) April 26, 2016
Minutes after the verdict was announced, John Aldridge, who played for Liverpool at the time of the disaster, posted on Twitter: "fantastic to see the reaction of the families outside the court! very emotional as well, The truth is out AT LAST. Take note all the doubters!!"
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, whose cousin, ten-year-old Jon-Paul Gilhooley was the youngest victim of the tragedy, posted a tribute on Instagram, showing the Hillsborough memorial at Anfield.
Also among former Liverpool footballers to pay tribute was Michael Owen, who posted on Twitter: "Just landed from China and catching up with the news. Finally and way, way, way overdue, the truth prevails and justice is served. #jft96."
Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez also added a message of support in a statement, saying: "After so many years fighting for justice I am really pleased to see the verdict today, which confirms what we have been saying for a long time.
"I am especially pleased for the families of the 96 who have sought justice for so long and with such dignity, as well as for the people of Liverpool and for football fans in general. Hopefully this verdict today will ensure that this kind of tragedy can never happen again."
Everton, the other major football club in Liverpool, put a special post on its website, reading: "Everton Football Club salutes the Hillsborough families and their total vindication as Fighters for Justice. Theirs is the greatest victory in the history of football. RIP, the 96. Good night, God bless. From us across the Park."
British Prime Minister David Cameron said that the conclusion of the Hillsborough inquests has provided "official confirmation" that Liverpool fans were "utterly blameless in the disaster".
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn paid tribute to the families and friends of all the victims of the tragedy as well as people from the city of Liverpool for the "passionate and dignified campaign they have fought for almost three decades.
"Today they received total vindication for their fight for the truth and for justice."
Home Secretary Theresa May said she will make a full statement to Parliament on Wednesday.
Labour MP and Shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham has described the findings as "real justice" for the victims.
The former cabinet minister, widely credited with helping to secure a new inquest into the disaster, said in a statement: "This has been the greatest miscarriage of justice of our times.
"But, finally, it is over. After 27 long years, this is real justice for the 96, their families and all Liverpool supporters.
"The survivors of this tragedy can finally be remembered for what they were on that day - the heroes of Hillsborough who tried to help their fellow fans."
Former chief constable of Greater Manchester Police Peter Fahy told the BBC: "Today is all about the families, it's about them getting justice and, through this whole process of the inquests, finding out the detail behind the death of their loved ones.
"The police failings were identified very quickly, and very quickly lessons were put into place. The whole way that football matches are policed, the training of police commanders, was radically overhauled.
"It was also about that basic culture of policing, about your duty as a police officer was there for public safety and not, as has been identified in the Independent Panel report, through the lens of hooliganism and the use of pens and things like that.
"All that changed very rapidly, the policing of the games. But sadly what didn't happen was that the families didn't get justice, and didn't get a proper explanation of what happened on that dreadful day."
