Keighley businessman Trevor Hicks welcomes Hillsborough verdict

Among those who died were the teenage daughters of Keighley businessman Trevor Hicks, Sarah and Vicki.

THe said campaigners had done their job and would now keep a close eye on the work of the CPS.

After emerging from the inquest courtroom, Mr Hicks also urged South Yorkshire Police to face up to the jury's finding of unlawful killing - question six of 14 the panel had to answer.

Wearing a badge bearing the number "96" on the lapel of his suit, Mr Hicks said: "We've known all along what happened. Obviously it's took us 20-odd years to get here."

Referring to the specific finding that the victims of the disaster were unlawfully killed, Mr Hicks 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 how he felt after the finding, Mr Hicks replied: "I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, to be fair.

"I think if anyone is a winner today, it's society at large in that, no matter who you are, how big you are, or where you are in your organisation, the public will come after you if you do anything wrong."

Commenting specifically about the role of South Yorkshire Police, Mr Hicks said: "Obviously they've got to face up to the fact - even throughout these proceedings - at the way they have conducted themselves.

"I go to back to what (Lord Justice) Taylor said (in his 1990 report into the disaster) in the very beginning - it would have been better if the truth had been faced."

Asked how the justice campaign would progress in light of the verdicts, Mr Hicks vowed: "We're not going anywhere.

"Obviously we hand over to the CPS and other people now - and we will be keeping an eye on them.

"We have to hand over now. The arms of the state should be working for us now rather than against us.

"We've done our job to get us here. We have exceeded all expectations - we've had a clean sweep in terms of every verdict."

Sarah Hicks, 19, and her 15-year-old sister had been standing in the central pens on the Leppings Lane terrace after being separated from their father.

The 96th victim to die was Tony Bland, from Keighley, who was 18 at the time of the disaster.

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He was left in a persistent vegetative state and his life supporting treatment was removed at the age of 22 after a legal battle.

The jurors were told they could only reach the determination of unlawful killing if they were sure of four "essential" matters concerning the deaths at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final.

They had to be convinced that overall match commander Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield owed a duty of care to those who died in the disaster, and that he was in breach of that duty of care.

Thirdly, they would need to be satisfied that his breach of duty caused the deaths and, fourthly, that it amounted to "gross negligence".

They concluded it was unlawful killing by a 7-2 majority.

The conclusion was greeted with sobbing and cheers at the hearing in Warrington.

The jury also ruled that fan behaviour did not cause or contribute to the tragedy.

The Hillsborough disaster unfolded during Liverpool's cup tie against Nottingham Forest on April 15 as thousands of fans were crushed at Sheffield Wednesday's ground.

Mr Duckenfield gave the order at 2.52pm to open exit Gate C in Leppings Lane, allowing around 2,000 fans to flood into the already packed central pens behind the goal.

The Hillsborough Disaster Memorial at Old Haymarket, Liverpool

The jury also found that both the police and the ambulance service caused or contributed to the loss of lives in the disaster by an error or omission after the crush in the west terrace had begun to develop.

After the key conclusions were delivered, someone in court shouted "God bless the jury".

The jurors were given a round of applause as they left the courtroom.

Lawyers acting for relatives of the victims said the jury's conclusions had completely vindicated the bereaved families' tireless 27-year fight for justice.

The jury of six women and three men gave their decisions on an emotionally charged day for relatives of the 96, many of whom were at court for the conclusion of the longest jury proceedings in British legal history.

Last Wednesday the jury indicated to the court in Warrington that unanimous decisions had been reached on every question apart from question six - unlawful killing.

They were given a majority direction yesterday and quickly indicated they had reached a majority decision on the outstanding question.

The fresh inquests began on March 31, 2014, in a specially built courtroom in Warrington.

The 1991 accidental deaths verdicts from the original inquests were quashed following the 2012 Hillsborough Independent Panel report after a long campaign by the families of the dead.

Dozens of relatives of the victims have attended each of the more than 300 days the court has sat at Bridgewater Place on the Cheshire town's Birchwood Park business park.

At the start of the inquests, the coroner said none of the victims should be blamed for their deaths.

Emotional tributes to each of the 96 were then delivered by family members in the form of personal portraits.

The jurors also found unanimously that policing of the match caused or contributed to a dangerous situation developing at the Leppings Lane turnstiles.

Commanding officers also caused or contributed to the crush on the terrace, the jury decided, as did those senior officers in the police control box when the order was given to open the exit gates at the Leppings Lane end of the stadium.

As families left the building they were met with applause from crowds who had gathered outside the court in support.

Many had arrived wearing Liverpool Football Club scarfs and holding posters and banners of loves one.

Labour MP Andy Burnham, who has supported the families' campaign, said: "This has been the greatest miscarriage of justice of our times.

"But, finally, it is over."

Former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher tweeted: "Justice finally. #JFT96."

John Aldridge, who was in the Liverpool at Hillsborough, tweeted: "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!!"