Prominent Hillsborough campaigner Barry Devonside has died aged 73.
Mr Devonside became a crucial figure in the fight for justice after his 18-year-old son Christopher was among 97 Liverpool fans who died in the tragedy.
He was everpresent at an inquest into the disaster which ran for two years in Warrington which culminated in a verdict of unlawful killing in April 2016.
At a retrial of Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield in 2019, Mr Devonside recounted the traumatic events which led to his son’s death.
He visited two hospitals and a boys’ club in Sheffield after the abandoned FA Cup semi-final before identifying Christopher’s body in the stadium’s gym.
Mr Devonside passed away earlier this month and was laid to rest in his native Formby on Wednesday, which saw a host of tributes paid to him.
Nicola Brook from Broudie Jackson Canter, who represented him at the inquests, described him as a ‘compassionate’ man who was there for everyone.
She said: “He attended every day of the two years of the inquests.
“He was so passionate in the fight and not only about his son Christopher and not just about the 97, but about all the survivors who also suffered and also the fans who were lied about and blamed.
“When you needed comedy relief he was there, when you needed someone to talk to he was there to have a quiet word.
“He will be remembered by many people for the kind-hearted, passionate person that he was.”