THE Hillsborough disaster match commander David Duckenfield has been cleared of manslaughter by gross negligence in the death of 95 Liverpool fans at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final.

The seven women and three men on the jury at Preston Crown Court returned the verdict today, following a trial which lasted more than six weeks.

Prosecutors alleged that Mr Duckenfield, 75, had a “personal responsibility” for what happened at the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on April 15 1989, where 96 men, women and children were fatally injured in a crush on the Leppings Lane terrace.

Under the law at the time, he was not charged in the death of the 96th victim, Tony Bland, because he died more than a year and a day after the disaster.

Benjamin Myers QC, defending Mr Duckenfield, told the jury that he had been a “target of blame” for the disaster.

He told the court: “We say David Duckenfield did do what he was expected to do as match commander. He didn’t breach his duty, he did what he was expected to do in difficult circumstances.”

About 45 family members watched the verdict from the Cunard Building in Liverpool, where the trial was screened.

Gasps were heard from the public gallery as the foreman returned the verdict.

One family member shouted “stitched up again” and others were in tears.

Christine Burke, the daughter of Henry Burke who was killed in the tragedy, stood in the public gallery and addressed the judge.

She said: “With all due respect, my lord, 96 people were found unlawfully killed to a criminal standard.”

Now in tears, she went on: “I would like to know who is responsible for my father’s death, because someone is.”

Mr Duckenfield’s wife Ann later went over to comfort her husband in the courtroom.

After the verdict, Hillsborough campaigner Sheila Coleman tweeted: “Duckenfield Not Guilty. What price British Justice? Correlated to the price you can afford to pay. Fuck the system.

“Would like to have been proved wrong but said long ago that the inquest verdict of unlawful killing was the only meaningful decision that would go to the families and survivors.”

Barry Devonside, whose son Christopher, 18, died in the disaster, said: “I’m shocked and stunned by the verdict of the jury.

“We, the families, have fought for 30 years valiantly.”