Today, Mrs Louise Hunt, the Senior Coroner for Birmingham and Solihull ,
will decide whether the Inquests into the deaths of the 21 people who died in the 1974 double bomning, including 2 brothers and 2 fathers who would never see their not-yet-born son’s, will be reopened. The Coroner has, in recent months, heard representations from the families who lost loved-ones and formed the the Justice 4 the 21Campaign requesting this in
the interests of justice and transparency. Interestingly, West Midlands Police questioned the Coroner's authority to re-open the Inquests and in recent months rumours have emerged suggesting that the Police were 'tipped-off' some two weeks before the bombings ...
On 21 November 1974 21 people died, and 182 were injured,
when bombs exploded in two City Centre Pubs, the Mulberry Bush and the Tavern
in the Town. Six men (Paddy Hill, Gerry Hunter, Johnny Walker, Hugh Callaghan,
Richard McIlkenny and Billy Power) were tried and wrongly convicted for the
killings, being released from prison in 1991. Inquests were opened in 1974 but
then adjourned because of the Police investigations and subsequent trials. We
now understand that the West Midlands Police investigation was seriously flawed
but the documents relating to it, which have been reviewed by the Coroner, are
subject to a 75 year embargo issued by the then DPP after the convictions were
quashed.
In the video below Julie Hambleton talks movingly about her
sister Maxine who died in the bombings, and the importance of the Inquests:
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| (c) and thanks to: http://justice4the21.co.uk/ |
The IRA was believed to have carried out the bombings,
although responsibility has never been claimed. West Midlands Police said the
investigation remains open but there is not enough evidence for a prosecution.
Since 1991 the families have campaigned for the
inquests to be reopened. I find it inconceivable that they haven’t been as yet
and hope that today Mrs Hunt, the Senior Coroner for Update: Inquests to be reopened
Inquests into deaths of 21 people in the 1974 Birmingham
She said ‘significant’ new information had come to light about the blasts at the Mulberry Bush and Tavern in the Town pubs. The coroner also stated there were two occasions where evidence supported claims the state had advance warnings of the attacks. Outside Solihull Council House, Julie Hambleton again spoke on behalf of the families of the deceased and responded to questions from the media. It was a privilege to hear this brave and courageous woman describe a search for 'fundamental' truth and justice plus the hope that accountability will follow from those responsible.
The Chief Constable of West Midlands Police has issued a statement welcoming the reopening of the inquests.
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