Leading Hillsborough campaigner Anne Williams dies after battle with cancer

- Williams, whose 15-year-old son died in disaster, was 'an inspiration'
Anne Williams: Died today after battling cancer
18 April 2013

Hillsborough justice campaigner Anne Williams has died after battling cancer.

Mrs Williams, 60, whose 15-year-old son Kevin died at Hillsborough, was one of the loudest voices throughout the campaigners' efforts for justice.

It was her fight to get her son's inquest verdict of accidental death overturned that is credited with leading to fresh hearings for all 96 supporters who died.

She defied doctors' expectations to attend what was her last public appearance at the Hillsborough memorial service at Anfield on Monday.

She was diagnosed with terminal cancer in October, but despite her ill-health she carried on her campaign and attended a hearing at London's Royal Courts of Justice in December when the original inquest verdicts were quashed.

Speaking after the historic hearing, which she attended in a wheelchair, she thanked Attorney General Dominic Grieve for being "a man of his word" in pushing for the new inquests.

She said: "I am glad we never gave up. It has been hard, but we wouldn't have been here today.

"I'd like a corporate manslaughter verdict in the inquest, it's the least for what they have done.

"God willing, I will be here, it has been a long wait to see justice.

"I am so glad I could be here today to hear it for myself."

Referring to the cover-up that shifted blame away from the authorities and on to the victims, she said: "I can't forgive them the extremes they went to. Why didn't they just give us the truth?"

Liverpool FC posted a statement on Twitter today saying: "Liverpool Football Club was this morning saddened to hear of the death of prominent Hillsborough campaigner Anne Williams. RIP Anne."

As recently as Monday, Sheila Coleman, of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign, paid tribute to Mrs Williams in the Liverpool Echo.

She said: "We applaud Anne's tenacity to draw on whatever reserves she has left to be here today - she is quite simply an inspiration."

Other friends and well-wishers took to Twitter to pay tribute to the campaigner who seemed to embody the spirit of the families who fought for justice for almost 25 years.

Paul Mac wrote: "Deepest sympathy to Anne's family a truly truly lovely woman and your with Kevin now Anne. We will never forget you x."

Pp Corke said: "A truly insperation Anne Williams. Every decent person on this planet has love and respect for long hard fight you fought Anne. Your with your Kevin now. Rest Anne. You av earned it. Lovely lady."

Steve Monahan added: "R.I.P Anne Williams. What a true fighter and a wonderful woman. What she has had to endure for the last 24 years is a disgrace and it should never have been this long. But in the face of adversity she remained dignified and never gave up hope. If I'm half the parent she was when I have children I'll be doing well.YNWAx"

Maria Eagle, MP for Liverpool Garston and Halewood, Tweeted: "So very sorry to hear about Anne Williams. She was an incredible inspirational woman. £RIP."

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