AFTER three years of meticulous research and tireless examination of evidence, senior case officer Nicola Brook from Great Sankey could not have done more in the fight for justice on behalf of the 96 Hillsborough disaster victims.

Along with her team at Broudie Jackson Canter, Nicola was sat on the edge of her seat in Warrington Coroner's Court at Birchwood Park on Tuesday, April 26, as she awaited the jury's findings – surrounded by the victims’ families.

The 35-year-old said: "We have always been realistic about how low we thought our chances were of getting unlawful killing.

"Most people think we expected to get it but we really didn't as it's such a high legal burden that you have to satisfy.

"We knew before that day that the jury were not unanimous.

"But then I started to hear the answers and started to feel more and more hopeful. They had got it. They really understood what we were trying to explain to them all this time."

An instant wave of relief washed over Nicola as the findings were read out in front of a packed court room.

After three years of work and dedication – even putting her honeymoon on hold after getting married last October – Nicola knew it had all been worth it.

From an early age, Nicola knew she wanted to become a lawyer and went on to study law at Priestley College before attending Liverpool University.

She was called to the Bar in 2005 and qualified as a barrister.

Nicola is no stranger to working on high-profile cases including the appeal against the conviction of Barry George who was wrongly sent to prison for the murder of television presenter Jill Dando.

But three years ago ­– after years of working in a serious crime department – Nicola applied for a job after seeing a job opportunity on the Hillsborough legal team.

"It was offering a 12 month contract so I knew financially it was a gamble because you lose your job security," she said.

"But it was too important. I'm from a family of Liverpudlians and I lived in Liverpool while at university."

Part of Nicola's job was interviewing dozens of the survivors who had witnessed the tragedy unfold.

While Nicola spoke of her relief for the victims’ families who finally have the truth, she also hopes the findings will provide comfort to the fans who were there on that day.

"You could see the guilt they carried around with them," she said.

"That's a guilt they have put on themselves but then to be called all the horrible names by the likes of The Sun and for other people to believe it.

"To be able to walk away and say I did not kill my friend and everyone knows the truth now. It was an amazing moment."

SENIOR case officer Nicola also played an integral part into the pathology findings – spending many difficult and heart-breaking hours combing through the post-mortem examinations of those who lost their lives.

She said: "The big thing that came out of the Hillsborough Independent Panel (HIP) report was about the 41 fans who might have been saved if they received proper medical care.

“I was given the pathology because out of all the senior case officers I was the only one who had experience at the looking at post mortem reports from my criminal background. People thought I would be able to cope better.

"The big issue the HIP looked at was that many of the deceased were diagnosed with a type of brain swelling called cerebral edema and - in order for that to develop - you have to be alive for at least an hour from the initial injury.

“If you are alive for an hour there's time for someone to give you some help.

"A lot of the people were not examined until 4pm in the gymnasium.

“If the crush started at 3pm that's your hour and that's the scope the emergency services had to potentially save lives."

After growing close to the families of the victims, who have faced an uphill struggle for justice since the day of the tragedy, Nicola says she is relieved that they now have they outcome they always fought to achieve.

She added: "Without a shadow of a doubt this has been the most rewarding case I have worked on. I will never forget it."