Government Deny National Inquiry into Birmingham City Bar Attacks

Ministers have ruled out initiating a national probe into the IRA's 1974 Birmingham city bar attacks.

This Horrific Event

Back on 21 November 1974, 21 civilians were killed and two hundred twenty hurt when bombs were set off at the Mulberry Bush and Tavern in the Town establishments in Birmingham, in an attack widely believed to have been orchestrated by the Provisional IRA.

Legal Consequences

Not a single person has been sentenced for the attacks. Back in 1991, 6 individuals had their guilty verdicts quashed after enduring more than 16 years in prison in what stands as one of the worst miscarriages of the legal system in United Kingdom history.

Relatives Campaign for Truth

Loved ones have for decades pushed for a public probe into the attacks to find out what the authorities knew at the moment of the tragedy and why not a single person has been brought to justice.

Official Statement

The security minister, Dan Jarvis, said on Thursday that while he had sincere sympathy for the families, the government had decided “after thorough consideration” it would not authorize an probe.

Jarvis explained the administration believes the newly established commission, established to look into fatalities related to the Northern Ireland conflict, could investigate the Birmingham bombings.

Campaigners Respond

Activist Julie Hambleton, whose 18-year-old sister Maxine was murdered in the bombings, said the statement demonstrated “the government don't care”.

The 62-year-old has long fought for a open probe and stated she and other bereaved relatives had “no intention” of engaging in the investigative panel.

“There is no real autonomy in the body,” she said, adding it was “tantamount to them grading their own work”.

Calls for Evidence Release

For years, bereaved loved ones have been demanding the publication of papers from government bodies on the incident – especially on what the authorities was aware of prior to and following the incident, and what information there is that could bring about legal action.

“The entire state apparatus is against our families from ever learning the reality,” she said. “Exclusively a legally mandated judge-led public probe will give us access to the papers they claim they do not possess.”

Legal Capabilities

A legally mandated public investigation has specific judicial powers, such as the power to compel witnesses to attend and provide evidence related to the probe.

Earlier Hearing

An inquest in 2019 – fought for bereaved families – ruled the those killed were murdered by the IRA but failed to identify the names of those culpable.

Hambleton stated: “The security services told the then coroner that they have zero files or information on what remains the UK's longest open mass murder of the 20th century, but at present they intend to push us to participate of this new commission to disclose information that they assert has never existed”.

Political Response

Liam Byrne, the MP for the local constituency, characterized the cabinet's ruling as “extremely disheartening”.

In a announcement on social media, Byrne stated: “After so much period, so much suffering, and so many disappointments” the loved ones merit a mechanism that is “independent, judge-led, with comprehensive powers and courageous in the search for the reality.”

Continuing Sorrow

Speaking of the family’s persistent pain, Hambleton, who heads the Justice 4 the 21, stated: “No relative of any tragedy of any sort will ever have resolution. It doesn’t exist. The suffering and the sorrow remain.”