On a momentus day for the families of the 96, fans of Liverpool Football Club and people of the city of Liverpool, everybody has had their say on the news that all of those involved in the campaign for justice have finally been vindicated (all apart from a certain national tabloid, of course).
And many former Liverpool players, Reds legends and those associated with the club and the city of Liverpool have also had their say on a day that will live long in the memory.
Rafa Benitez, via his own official website, said: “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.”
Benitez is rightly considered a club legend by most fans, and attended many Hillsborough Memorial services during – and since – his time at the club; something for which the families and fans of the club have always appreciated of the manager.
Elsewhere, John Aldridge, club legend and one of the players in the Liverpool team that day, said: “I’m a die hard Scouser. I may have played for the Republic of Ireland, but Liverpool is my home, my city, my blood. It always has been, always will be.
“It’s hurt me over the years, having people tell me to ‘give it a rest’ over Hillsborough. Telling me they know what happened that day, or that people need to move on or get over it.
“I’ve lost count of the number of arguments I’ve had in my life on the issue. I’ve told that many ignorant people where to go.
“Those people never understood the reality of Hillsborough, but we did. The people of Liverpool did.
“We always knew what really happened. We always knew what the story was. We always knew the truth.
“And now the whole world knows it too.”
Whilst clubs legends had their say via Twitter, with Jamie Carragher and Luis Garcia tweeting:
Justice finally. #JFT96
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) April 26, 2016
Justice has been done!! RIP #96 #YNWApic.twitter.com/FLKkwI8OgA
— Luis Garcia (@LuchoGarcia14) April 26, 2016
Whilst finally, Kelly Cates, no doubt also mirroring the sentiments of her father Kenny, tweeted:
The 96 people who were unlawfully killed, the traumatised survivors. It was not your fault. It never was. And we knew that. #TheTruth
— Kelly Cates (@KellyCates) April 26, 2016
At long last, justice has been served.