This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35537791

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Birmingham pub bombings: Hearing over inquests into deaths Birmingham pub bombings: 'IRA mole tipped off police'
(about 3 hours later)
A hearing that could lead to the reopening of inquests into the deaths of 21 people killed in the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings is underway. An IRA informant may have told police about the 1974 Birmingham pub bombs before they exploded, a coroner heard.
A lawyer for three of the victims families claimed police had an IRA "mole" who warned them of the attacks. Ashley Underwood QC, who represents some of the victims' families, told a hearing into whether to reopen inquests for the 21 victims there was "reason to believe it's the case".
Paddy Hill, one of six wrongly convicted of the bombings, said: "We've had 41 years of nothing but lies." Birmingham and Solihull coroner Louise Hunt is hearing an application to resume inquests into the 1974 atrocity.
The QC for West Midlands Police said there were three lines of inquiry that could lead to "potential new evidence". It is widely acknowledged the IRA was behind the bombings.
Julie Hambleton, whose sister Maxine died, is leading the campaign for new inquests. Ms Hunt is hearing three days of submissions for and against the inquests being resumed. A decision is expected in two weeks.
She said: "What sort of society are we living in if we don't fight for those who died?"
More on this story and others Birmingham and Black CountryMore on this story and others Birmingham and Black Country
Ashley Underwood QC, for three of the families, described the bombings as "the most horrific mass murder in living memory" followed by "the most serious miscarriage of justice in living memory". Mr Underwood said West Midlands Police officers may have wrongly prosecuted six men - who became known as the Birmingham Six and whose convictions were quashed in 1991 - knowing they were innocent in order to protect their "mole" and cover up their prior knowledge of the attacks.
He said officers may have wrongly prosecuted the six knowing they were innocent in order to protect their "mole" and cover up the fact that they had prior knowledge of the attacks. "There is reason to believe the gang of murderers had an informant in their ranks and that the police knew in advance.
Mr Hill said: "I want the truth as well, we never get justice, but the one thing we can get is the thing we deserve the most, and that's the truth." "And there is reason to believe the police had sufficient time, between the telephone warnings and the first bomb going off, to evacuate - and that the emergency services could have arrived earlier - but that records about those things were falsified."
Paul Rowland, whose father John died in the attacks, spoke publicly for the first time to BBC WM. He said: "If there are people that are free now that have committed that act, whatever the excuse, I'm interested in seeing the facts, I think they should be brought to justice. If somebody has committed mass murder it's only right." Arriving at the hearing, one of the six, Paddy Hill, said: "We've had 41 years of nothing but lies. I want the truth as well, we never get justice but the one thing we can get is the thing we deserve the most, and that's the truth."
Jeremy Johnson QC, for West Midlands Police, said the possibility of fresh forensic evidence was now being pursued with the help of the Army. Jeremy Johnson QC, for West Midlands Police, said its chief constable has no "principled objection" to the resumption of the inquests - but questioned whether Ms Hunt had jurisdiction to hear them.
Ms Hunt had requested Mr Johnson provide her with a list of "lost" evidence, including an unexploded third bomb.
A separate police review of evidence in the case, ending in 2014, discovered that of the 168 original exhibits listed for the Birmingham Six trial, 35 items could not be located.
Mr Johnson said the possibility of fresh forensic evidence was now being pursued with the help of the Army.
He said police were also looking at information about the bombings in a book published by a former member of the IRA and an account given to officers last August by a former firefighter, Alan Hill.He said police were also looking at information about the bombings in a book published by a former member of the IRA and an account given to officers last August by a former firefighter, Alan Hill.
Louise Hunt, the senior coroner for Birmingham, will hear from the families of three of the people murdered in the attacks - Maxine Hambleton, Trevor Thrupp and James Craig - as well as other "interested persons". Ms Hunt will hear from the families of three of the people murdered in the attacks - Maxine Hambleton, Trevor Thrupp and James Craig - as well as other "interested persons".
The hearing at Solihull Coroners' Court is expected to last for three days with a decision expected in two weeks' time. An inquest was opened and adjourned in 1975 but, because the case was subject to a criminal investigation that resulted in the conviction of six men, it was never completed.
An inquest was opened and adjourned in 1975 but, because the case was subject to a criminal investigation that resulted in the conviction of six men, it was never resumed. The families argue the inquests should now be resumed.
The convictions of the Birmingham Six were quashed in 1991.
The families argue the inquests should be resumed as the original process was never completed.
Analysis: Phil Mackie, BBC Midlands correspondentAnalysis: Phil Mackie, BBC Midlands correspondent
This could be the last chance, in their lifetimes, for campaigners to have evidence heard in public which wasn't available in 1974. They'll hope coroner Louise Hunt will agree the inquest should be reopened and key witnesses, who the families believe can identify the bombers, be called.This could be the last chance, in their lifetimes, for campaigners to have evidence heard in public which wasn't available in 1974. They'll hope coroner Louise Hunt will agree the inquest should be reopened and key witnesses, who the families believe can identify the bombers, be called.
West Midlands Police says the investigation remains active but there's not enough evidence for a fresh prosecution.West Midlands Police says the investigation remains active but there's not enough evidence for a fresh prosecution.
Calls for a public inquiry have fallen on deaf ears, which means an inquest remains the best chance for the families to discover who was responsible for the attacks.Calls for a public inquiry have fallen on deaf ears, which means an inquest remains the best chance for the families to discover who was responsible for the attacks.
Ordinarily a coroner's job is to determine how, where and when a person died, as well as their identity. In this case all of those facts are known, but the coroner can also investigate the circumstances of someone's death.Ordinarily a coroner's job is to determine how, where and when a person died, as well as their identity. In this case all of those facts are known, but the coroner can also investigate the circumstances of someone's death.
The victims' relatives are pinning their hopes on a resumption, and that it will be as far-reaching as the Hillsborough Inquest.The victims' relatives are pinning their hopes on a resumption, and that it will be as far-reaching as the Hillsborough Inquest.
Birmingham pub bombings inquests: What we knowBirmingham pub bombings inquests: What we know