After three years waiting for justice for the deaths of those who were killed in the terror attack at Manchester Arena, families of the victims, survivors and city leaders can hope to find a sliver of closure. On Thursday, Hashem Abedi, the brother of bomber Salman Abedi, was given a life sentence with a minimum of 55 years at the Old Bailey for 22 counts of murder, attempted murder, and plotting to cause an explosion likely to endanger life. Many have reacted by welcoming the sentencing, although some have stated that no justice could go far enough for the victims. Figen Murray, who has campaigned for greater security measures at venues following the death of her son Martyn Hett, 29, who was killed in the bombing, said: “Hashem Abedi has now faced justice for his crimes. He has deeply affected our lives and although we will never have time back with those we lost, we can now put this trial behind us and try to move forwards.” She added that the two-day sentencing had been tough for her family, and that the “next chapter” in their ordeal would be the public inquiry into the attack, which will begin in September. Andrew Hardy, the father of Olivia Campbell-Hardy, who died in the attack aged 15, said the sentence had brought him “no relief whatsoever”, adding that “there can never be any justice for the victims”. In a statement, the families of Chloe Rutherford, 17, and Liam Curry, 19, said: “No sentence will be enough for us” because ultimately it is not Abedi who is serving that sentence. “We will be the ones serving that sentence, we’ve had our children ripped from us in the most horrific way and nothing will ever come close to taking that searing pain away,” they said. “Chloe and Liam were beautiful, hardworking and loving kids who had dreams and ambitions just like any other teenagers in love and so we needed them to be remembered for all the right reasons and not as victims.” Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester’s mayor, said on Twitter: “Today we think of them all, their families and everyone whose life was changed by what happened on 22 May 2017. “We always said we would do whatever it took to bring those responsible to justice and are indebted to our police force, @gmpolice, for achieving this verdict today.” Ian Hopkins, the chief constable of Greater Manchester police, who called the attack “cowardly”, said he hoped the fact that “Abedi will spend the vast majority of the rest of his life behind bars” would bring “some small measure of comfort” to the families of victims and survivors. Boris Johnson described the attack as a “horrifying and cowardly act of violence which targeted children and families”. “Those who were taken from us will never be forgotten, nor will the spirit of the people of Manchester who came together to send a clear message to the entire world that terrorists will never prevail,” the prime minister said. The youngest victim who was killed in the attack was only eight. Caroline Curry, mother of Liam Curry, held up a photo of her son in court and addressed an empty dock earlier this week. “You took his future, my future, my family’s future,” she said. “All we have now is heartbreak and dreams of what if.” In his sentencing remarks, Judge Jeremy Baker said of Abedi: “He may never be released as that will only occur if and when the Parole Board is satisfied that it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that he should be confined.” Manchester city council’s leader, Sir Richard Leese, said it had been a long journey to reach this point. “No sentence can very truly reflect the magnitude of the crime, but I hope that Hashem Abedi being locked up for life will provide some measure of comfort for those who lost loved ones, and everyone affected.”