Irish group dismay at lack of pub bombings inquiry

Maurice Malone said Birmingham Irish Association would be there to support families

The chief executive of the Birmingham Irish Association says he is "very disappointed" at the government's decision not to hold a public inquiry into the 1974 pub bombings.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said "the most appropriate route is through the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery", a body established to look into deaths during Northern Ireland's decades-long conflict.

Maurice Malone from the city's Irish Association said it was "tough to see without the finer detail" whether that would give the victims' families answers.

Friday marks the 51st anniversary of the IRA attack and a service will take place at St Philip's Cathedral from 17:45 GMT.

People are also due to gather at a memorial tree outside New Street station from 19:00.

Twenty one people died and 220 were injured when bombs exploded at the Mulberry Bush and The Tavern in the Town in 1974.

Mr Malone said he was "disappointed, very disappointed" at the decision not to hold a public inquiry, adding: "Am I surprised? No."

He said he had spoken to families "when the announcement was made and they are very upset and you can understand why".

"They've been clinging on to hope for years and years that they will eventually get this public inquiry."

Mr Malone said the association would be there to support families.

"If ICRIR isn't the route for them and the public inquiry is not an option, it's tough to see where they go from there," he said.

The Mulberry Bush pub was at the foot of the Rotunda building in the city centre

Security minister Dan Jarvis has said while he had deep sympathy with families, the government felt an ongoing commission investigation would be effective.

Liam Byrne, Labour MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North, has written to Jarvis to reject a proposal for the case to be referred to the ICRIR.

Starmer has said he would "make sure the relevant meeting is set up" so families could "put their point of view for us to consider".

Former West Midlands mayor Conservative Andy Street, who said he had supported the Justice 4 The 21 campaign since 2017, added he was "deeply disappointed" the government said it would not grant a public inquiry.

"I've always believed that the principle of British justice is you must continue going until you get an answer, until you get the best you can around closure," he said.

He added Byrne was "an admirable advocate on this" and "got a reasonably positive answer" from the Prime Minister.

Additional reporting from Andrew Dawkins, West Midlands.