🔗 Share this article Officials Reject Open Inquiry into Birmingham City Pub Bombings Government officials have decided against establishing a open investigation into the Provisional IRA's 1974-era Birmingham city pub bombings. The Horrific Attack On 21 November 1974, twenty-one individuals were lost their lives and two hundred twenty wounded when explosive devices were exploded at the Mulberry Bush pub and Tavern in the Town venues in Birmingham, in an assault commonly accepted to have been orchestrated by the IRA. Legal Aftermath Not a single person has been sentenced for the bombings. Back in 1991, 6 individuals had their convictions quashed after enduring over 16 years in detention in what remains one of the most severe failures of the legal system in British history. Victims' Families Campaign for Answers Relatives have long campaigned for a public investigation into the attacks to find out what the authorities knew at the moment of the tragedy and why no one has been brought to justice. Official Statement The minister for security, Dan Jarvis, announced on Thursday that while he had sincere sympathy for the families, the cabinet had decided “after thorough consideration” it would not authorize an investigation. Jarvis stated the administration believes the reconciliation commission, set up to look into fatalities connected to the Northern Ireland conflict, could look into the Birmingham bombings. Advocates Express Disappointment Campaigner Julie Hambleton, whose teenage sister Maxine was lost her life in the bombings, commented the announcement showed “the administration show no concern”. The 62-year-old has for decades campaigned for a national investigation and stated she and other grieving families had “no plan” of participating in the investigative panel. “We see no real autonomy in the panel,” she said, noting it was “like them grading their own performance”. Requests for Document Release For decades, bereaved relatives have been requesting the release of files from security services on the incident – specifically on what the authorities was aware of before and after the attack, and what evidence there is that could bring about arrests. “The whole British establishment is opposed to our relatives from ever learning the reality,” she said. “Solely a official judge-led public inquiry will give us access to the documents they assert they lack.” Official Powers A statutory open probe has specific legal powers, including the ability to compel participants to appear and provide information related to the probe. Prior Investigation An hearing in 2019 – fought for grieving families – ruled the victims were illegally slain by the Provisional IRA but did not determine the identities of those culpable. Hambleton stated: “Government bodies told the presiding official that they have zero files or evidence on what continues to be the UK's most prolonged unresolved atrocity of the last century, but at present they aim to force us to participate of this investigative body to share details that they state has never been available”. Official Criticism Liam Byrne, the Member of Parliament for the local constituency, labeled the cabinet's ruling as “profoundly unsatisfactory”. Through a message on X, Byrne wrote: “After such a long period, so much suffering, and so many failures” the loved ones are entitled to a mechanism that is “autonomous, judicially directed, with full powers and fearless in the pursuit for the reality.” Ongoing Pain Discussing the families' persistent pain, Hambleton, who heads the advocacy organization, remarked: “No family of any atrocity of any type will ever have peace. It is impossible. The suffering and the grief continue.”