Liverpool grants posthumous honor to 96 fans killed in 1989 Hillsborough tragedy

The 96 fans killed 27 years ago in Britain's worst ever football tragedy are to be granted the honorary Freedom of Liverpool title, the city's mayor Joe Anderson announced Friday.

To bestow such an honor on so many people at once has never been done before in Britain, nor has awarding the accolade posthumously.

The announcement comes just weeks after a jury at an inquest court ruled the fans were unlawfully killed in a deadly crowd surge at the Hillsborough football stadium on April 15, 1989.

Families of the dead campaigned for 27 years to discover the truth of what really happened at a semi-final cup game between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

Mayor Anderson said Friday: "The fight for truth and justice over the last 27 years has involved many people, not least the families of the 96 ... We are, in truly exceptional circumstances, posthumously awarding the Freedom of the City to the 96 innocent people who the whole world now knows paid the ultimate price for the failings and actions of others."

A number of people involved in the long-running campaign are also being honoured, either being granted the Freedom of Liverpool or made Citizens of Honor.

"The individuals we will be honoring have played a crucial role in righting of the biggest wrongs seen in recent British history," he said.

The freedom is being granted to Kenny Dalglish, manager of Liverpool at the time of the Hillsborough tragedy and the Right Reverend James Jones who chaired the Hillsborough Independent Panel, producing the report that became Britain's longest ever inquest.

The city is to commission a special Hillsborough medal and a special plaque will be unveiled in Liverpool Town Hall, listing the names of the 96 fans granted the freedom of Liverpool.

Anderson added: "It has needed tremendous diligence and persistence to demolish the wall of lies that was cruelly created by the establishment to deflect blame for the tragedy away from those that were really responsible.

Margaret Aspinall, the mother of one of the victims, and chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said: "I am absolutely delighted that the city has chosen to honour the 96 in this way as it is a wonderful tribute to their memory."