Tributes to ‘unwavering’ Hillsbrough campaigner

Tributes have been paid to a father who fought with “compassion, determination and strength” for justice after his son died in the Hillsborough disaster.

Barry Devonside, who has died at the age of 78, became a prominent voice in the campaign after his son Christopher was among the 97 Liverpool fans killed as a result of the crush in 1989.

He went every day for two years to the victims’ inquests, which ended in 2016 by concluding they had been unlawfully killed.

Charlotte Hennessy, whose father died at Hillsborough, was close friends with Barry and said: “The only peaceful thing about Barry’s death is knowing that he is reunited with Christopher now.”

“His determination and his strength and the love for his son just never wavered,” she said.

Mr Devonside went to the match with his 18-year-old son on 15 April 1989 and they had tickets for different parts of the ground.

Christopher stood on the Leppings Lane terraces while Mr Devonside sat in the North Stand, where he watched as the tragedy unfold.

He later said he would regret letting his son go to the match for the rest of his life.

At the Hillsborough inquests he read a statement about his son, written by Christopher’s mother Jacqueline.

Nicola Brook from Broudie Jackson Canter solicitors, who represented Mr Devonside at the Hillsborough Inquests, said Mr Devonside will be remembered as a “compassionate” man who was there for everyone.

“He attended every day of the two years of the inquests,” she said.

“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.”