THE 97th victim of the Hillsborough Disaster will be posthumously awarded Freedom of Wirral during a special council meeting later this month. 

Andrew Devine passed away, aged 55, in July last year due to complications resulting from the life-changing injuries he received at the Hillsborough stadium disaster in April 1989.

He will posthumously awarded when council meets a week on Monday, March 21.

His name will join the other 96 victims of the tragedy, who were posthumously awarded the Freedom of the Borough on September 15, 2017.

Members of Andrew’s family, including his mother and father, Hilary and Stanley, have recently met with the Mayor of Wirral to discuss the award, and will attend the special meeting of the Council at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton, where they will be presented with the civic scroll.

The Mayor of Wirral, Councillor George Davies, said: "The Freedom of our Borough is a rare and special honour and I know it will be a proud and poignant moment when the whole council stands together to honour Andrew and remember all those unlawfully killed at Hillsborough.

"Our thoughts and gratitude will also be with those who cared for all those affected by the terrible events that day and for their monumental struggle for truth and justice."

Andrew’s name will join a short and illustrious ‘roll of honour’ of individuals and military units to receive the freedom of Wirral in the almost 50 years since the borough was established. As well as the 96 it includes just eight individuals, including WW2 hero Lieutenant Commander Ian Edward Fraser VC, and seven military units, including the Cheshire Regiment.