A senior Member of Parliament is demanding the Government reverses its controversial decision to block a full public inquiry into the Birmingham Pub Bombings, an unsolved atrocity that has haunted the city for half a century.
Five-Decade Fight for Justice
Liam Byrne, the MP for Hodge Hill and Solihull North, has formally written to Security Minister Dan Jarvis to protest the official plan. The Government intends for the case to be handled by the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR), a body established under the Legacy Act.
Mr Byrne, however, is championing the cause of the victims' families, who have tirelessly campaigned for a proper judge-led statutory public inquiry under the 1995 Inquiries Act. He argues that the Government's proposed alternative is not fit for purpose and will fail to deliver the answers the city deserves.
An Unhealed Wound
The call for action comes more than 50 years after the horrific events of November 21, 1974. On that night, bombers targeted two popular city centre pubs – the Mulberry Bush and the Tavern – murdering 21 innocent people and injuring hundreds more.
In the five decades since the explosions, no one has ever been brought to justice for the attacks. This lack of accountability has left a deep and persistent scar on the community, with families of the victims continuing their quest for truth and closure.
Families Back MP's Campaign
Mr Byrne stated, "Having met with the Justice 4 the 21 families, I know that the Government’s proposed ICRIR simply cannot deliver the truth these families have sought for more than fifty years. As it stands, it is not fit for purpose."
He powerfully added, "Only a proper judge-led inquiry can command the confidence of the families and finally confront the question that has haunted our city for half a century: Who bombed Birmingham? The families deserve nothing less."
His stance has been warmly welcomed by the campaign group representing the bereaved families. Julie Hambleton, of Justice 4 the 21, whose sister Maxine was killed in the bombings, endorsed the MP's call.
She said, "We endorse his call that the Government establish a statutory public inquiry into the Birmingham Pub Bombings of 1974. Only this mechanism can deliver to us truth, justice and accountability."
Ms Hambleton was unequivocal in her rejection of the Government's current plan, stating, "The Legacy Act cannot do that. The Troubles Bill will not do that. We will not engage with any state-sponsored mechanism... apart from an independent human rights compliant inquiry."
The pressure is now mounting on ministers to listen to the cross-party and community demands and grant a full public inquiry, finally offering a chance for resolution to one of the UK's most devastating unsolved crimes.
