🔗 Share this article Government Rule Out Public Inquiry into Birmingham City Pub Explosions Authorities have ruled out establishing a open probe into the Provisional IRA's 1974-era Birmingham pub bombings. This Tragic Incident Back on 21 November 1974, twenty-one people were killed and two hundred twenty wounded when explosive devices were exploded at the Mulberry Bush pub and Tavern in the Town establishments in Birmingham, in an attack widely believed to have been planned by the Irish Republican Army. Judicial Consequences No one has been convicted over the incidents. Back in 1991, 6 men had their convictions overturned after serving over 16 years in detention in what stands as one of the gravest errors of the legal system in United Kingdom history. Relatives Fight for Justice Families have for years pushed for a public investigation into the explosions to find out what the authorities knew at the moment of the incident and why nobody has been brought to justice. Official Statement The minister for security, Dan Jarvis, stated on recently that while he had sincere empathy for the loved ones, the cabinet had determined “after thorough consideration” it would not commit to an inquiry. Jarvis explained the authorities thinks the newly established commission, established to look into deaths related to the Northern Ireland conflict, could look into the Birmingham bombings. Activists Respond Campaigner Julie Hambleton, whose teenage sister Maxine was lost her life in the attacks, stated the statement demonstrated “the authorities are indifferent”. The sixty-two-year-old has for decades pushed for a public investigation and stated she and other grieving families had “no desire” of taking part in the commission. “There is no true impartiality in the panel,” she remarked, adding it was “tantamount to them assessing their own work”. Demands for Document Release For years, grieving loved ones have been demanding the disclosure of papers from intelligence agencies on the attack – especially on what the government was aware of prior to and following the attack, and what proof there is that could lead to legal action. “The entire UK government system is resisting our families from ever knowing the reality,” she said. “Solely a legally mandated judge-directed open inquiry will grant us access to the files they claim they do not possess.” Legal Capabilities A legally mandated public probe has specific official powers, encompassing the power to compel witnesses to attend and disclose details connected to the inquiry. Previous Inquest An inquest in 2019 – secured by grieving families – ruled the victims were murdered by the IRA but did not determine the names of those culpable. Hambleton said: “The security services advised the coroner at the time that they have no documents or evidence on what is still Britain's longest unsolved mass murder of the 20th century, but now they aim to pressure us to participate of this new commission to disclose evidence that they claim has never been available”. Official Criticism Liam Byrne, the MP for Hodge Hill and Solihull North, characterized the cabinet's decision as “deeply, deeply disheartening”. Through a message on Twitter, Byrne said: “After such a long period, such immense grief, and so many let-downs” the families are entitled to a procedure that is “autonomous, judge-led, with complete powers and courageous in the search for the facts.” Continuing Sorrow Speaking of the families' enduring sorrow, Hambleton, who heads the Justice 4 the 21, said: “Not a single family of any horror of any type will ever have closure. It is impossible. The pain and the grief remain.”