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Government officials have ruled out launching a public inquiry into the Provisional IRA's 1974 Birmingham pub explosions.

This Devastating Event

On 21 November 1974, twenty-one individuals were lost their lives and two hundred twenty hurt when bombs were exploded at the Mulberry Bush and Tavern in the Town venues in Birmingham, in an assault largely thought to have been carried out by the IRA.

Judicial Consequences

Nobody has been sentenced for the bombings. Back in 1991, six individuals had their guilty verdicts quashed after spending over 16 years in jail in what is considered one of the worst failures of justice in United Kingdom history.

Families Fight for Answers

Relatives have long campaigned for a public investigation into the bombings to discover what the government knew at the time of the tragedy and why nobody has been prosecuted.

Government Response

The minister for security, Dan Jarvis, announced on Thursday that while he had deep compassion for the relatives, the government had determined “after detailed deliberation” it would not establish an inquiry.

Jarvis stated the authorities believes the reconciliation commission, set up to look into deaths related to the Northern Ireland conflict, could investigate the Birmingham bombings.

Activists Express Disappointment

Advocate Julie Hambleton, whose 18-year-old sister Maxine was murdered in the bombings, commented the announcement demonstrated “the administration show no concern”.

The sixty-two-year-old has for decades pushed for a open investigation and stated she and other bereaved relatives had “no plan” of participating in the commission.

“We see no true impartiality in the panel,” she remarked, adding it was “like them marking their own performance”.

Demands for Document Release

For years, bereaved relatives have been demanding the disclosure of files from intelligence agencies on the attack – specifically on what the government knew prior to and after the attack, and what evidence there is that could lead to arrests.

“The entire state apparatus is against our relatives from ever discovering the reality,” she declared. “Exclusively a legally mandated judge-led open inquiry will grant us entry to the documents they state they lack.”

Official Authority

A official national inquiry has distinct legal authorities, such as the ability to oblige witnesses to appear and provide details related to the investigation.

Previous Investigation

An hearing in 2019 – fought for grieving relatives – determined the victims were unlawfully killed by the IRA but did not establish the identities of those culpable.

Hambleton stated: “The security services informed the coroner at the time that they have absolutely no records or information on what continues to be England’s longest unresolved mass murder of the 20th century, but at present they want to pressure us to participate of this investigative body to share evidence that they claim has never existed”.

Official Reaction

Liam Byrne, the Member of Parliament for Hodge Hill and Solihull North, described the government’s announcement as “profoundly unsatisfactory”.

Through a announcement on social media, Byrne said: “Following so much time, such immense suffering, and so many let-downs” the loved ones are entitled to a mechanism that is “impartial, judge-led, with complete capabilities and courageous in the search for the reality.”

Ongoing Grief

Speaking of the family’s enduring grief, Hambleton, who leads the Justice 4 the 21, stated: “Not a single family of any tragedy of any kind will ever have resolution. It is impossible. The pain and the anguish continue.”