Hillsborough families receive Women of the Year Special Award

Margaret Aspinall, the chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, received the accolade on their behalf at a ceremony held in London on Monday.

A 27-year battle for truth and justice led by the families, survivors and campaigners saw new inquests into the disaster of April 15, 1989 return a verdict of unlawful killing earlier this year.

“The mothers, sisters, daughters and aunts deserve to be recognised as our Special Women of the Year for working tirelessly for 27 years to establish the truth of what happened at Hillsborough,” said Jane Luca, chair of Women of the Year.

“This award also honours those mothers who have died before seeing justice done.”

Prime Minister Theresa May presented the award and commented: “It was an honour to present the Women of the Year Special Award to the Hillsborough families.

“Having lost their loved ones in the most appalling circumstances, they then spent 27 years searching for the truth with extraordinary dignity.

“This April, when the fresh inquests delivered their conclusions, they made clear to the whole nation what the Hillsborough families have known to be true from the beginning – that the fans were blameless.

“Thanks to their resolve, we now know the truth of what happened that day. This award is for all those who lost their lives at Hillsborough and their families, who have shown immense courage and determination.”