Birmingham pub bombings: 'Inappropriate' for Home Office to decide on public inquiry

Twenty one people were killed in two blasts on 21 November 1974

A decision on holding a public inquiry into the Birmingham Pub Bombings would be "inappropriate" while a police inquiry is active, a minister said.

Twenty one people died at the Mulberry Bush and Tavern in the Town pubs in November 1974, and 220 were injured.

A public inquiry has long been demanded by victims' families, who met with Home Secretary Priti Patel on Wednesday.

Home Office minister Kevin Foster said he recognised "the desire to see those responsible brought to justice".

New inquests in 2019 ruled the victims were unlawfully killed, but did not establish who was responsible.

Those hearings happened after families campaigned for several years for a full account of what happened on the night.

The blasts ripped apart the Mulberry Bush pub at the base of the Rotunda and the Tavern in the Town in nearby New Street

In October, the home secretary said she would consider the case for a public inquiry.

On 8 March, Labour's Birmingham Edgbaston MP Preet Gill asked the home secretary whether she had reached a decision.

The Home Office's response came on Tuesday through a written answer from Mr Foster.

He said: "There is an ongoing investigation by West Midlands Police into the bombings and it would be inappropriate to make a decision on whether to establish an inquiry while this is proceeding."

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On Wednesday, the families met virtually with the home secretary and Ms Patel promised to meet them again in Birmingham in person: "I recognise the desire of the victim's families and the wider community to see those responsible brought to justice."

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street was also at the meeting and said it was another step towards a public inquiry.

Julie Hambleton, who lost her sister Maxine in the pub bombings, said the meeting had been "a long time in coming" for the Justice for the 21 group.

She urged the home secretary to meet them within a month "so that we may discover whether she is going to give us what our loved ones deserve, which is a full statutory inquiry".

Six men - Hugh Callaghan, Paddy Hill, Gerard Hunter, Richard McIlkenny, William Power and John Walker - were wrongly jailed for life in 1975 for the bombings.

The group, who became known as the Birmingham Six, had their convictions quashed, and they were released in 1991.

West Midlands Police said there continued to be an active criminal investigation.