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Birmingham bombings: police botched the case. But it shouldn’t be reopened Birmingham bombings: police botched the case. But it shouldn’t be reopened
(7 months later)
The news that relatives of some of the Birmingham pub bombing victims are trying to persuade the coroner to reopen the inquest into their deaths has inevitably led to demands for a new investigation into this most heinous of crimes. Sadly, it comes 40 years too late.The news that relatives of some of the Birmingham pub bombing victims are trying to persuade the coroner to reopen the inquest into their deaths has inevitably led to demands for a new investigation into this most heinous of crimes. Sadly, it comes 40 years too late.
Had there been a serious investigation at the outset, I have no doubt the bombers could have been caught. Contrary to the official version of events, the real killers, having planted their bombs, did not walk the few yards to New Street station and board the boat train for Ireland. They went home and kept their heads down. They were all still in Birmingham weeks – in at least one case months – after the bombings. The problem was the police weren’t looking for them.Had there been a serious investigation at the outset, I have no doubt the bombers could have been caught. Contrary to the official version of events, the real killers, having planted their bombs, did not walk the few yards to New Street station and board the boat train for Ireland. They went home and kept their heads down. They were all still in Birmingham weeks – in at least one case months – after the bombings. The problem was the police weren’t looking for them.
The investigation, such as it was, lasted barely 48 hours. Five of the innocent men subsequently convicted of the bombings were arrested within around three hours of the explosions. The sixth was detained the following day.The investigation, such as it was, lasted barely 48 hours. Five of the innocent men subsequently convicted of the bombings were arrested within around three hours of the explosions. The sixth was detained the following day.
Related: Birmingham pub bombings: victims' families push to reopen investigation
Unfortunately, they fell into the hands of the notorious West Midlands serious crimes squad, whose members specialised in extracting confessions. Once four of the men had been persuaded to confess, the rest of the so-called investigation consisted of fitting their faces to the frame, with the aid of some dodgy forensic evidence. Any information that contradicted the official version of events was ignored or discarded. Which was unfortunate because, in the months before the pub bombings and indeed afterwards, the police had some success in rounding up those responsible for the IRA’s West Midlands campaign.Unfortunately, they fell into the hands of the notorious West Midlands serious crimes squad, whose members specialised in extracting confessions. Once four of the men had been persuaded to confess, the rest of the so-called investigation consisted of fitting their faces to the frame, with the aid of some dodgy forensic evidence. Any information that contradicted the official version of events was ignored or discarded. Which was unfortunate because, in the months before the pub bombings and indeed afterwards, the police had some success in rounding up those responsible for the IRA’s West Midlands campaign.
Having so many IRA men in custody, it would have been a relatively easy matter to find out which of their members were still at liberty on the night of the pub bombings and were, therefore, potential suspects. Had they listened, they would also have heard that none of the six charged with the bombings were members of the IRA.Having so many IRA men in custody, it would have been a relatively easy matter to find out which of their members were still at liberty on the night of the pub bombings and were, therefore, potential suspects. Had they listened, they would also have heard that none of the six charged with the bombings were members of the IRA.
Indeed there is reason to believe that the police were rather better informed about what happened than they have ever admitted. At least one of the IRA men in custody talked. In the autumn of 1987 someone with access to the Special Branch archive provided the Granada television programme World in Action with a five-page precis of interviews with an IRA man arrested after the bombings who purported to name one of the bombers. So far as I can see, no action was taken.Indeed there is reason to believe that the police were rather better informed about what happened than they have ever admitted. At least one of the IRA men in custody talked. In the autumn of 1987 someone with access to the Special Branch archive provided the Granada television programme World in Action with a five-page precis of interviews with an IRA man arrested after the bombings who purported to name one of the bombers. So far as I can see, no action was taken.
When I came on the scene in the mid-80s, just about the whole of Birmingham was in denial. A veteran crime reporter on the Birmingham Post told me he had never even heard it suggested that the wrong men had been convicted, even though they had been noisily protesting their innocence for a decade. The central library initially refused to stock my book on the case, and the city’s principal bookshop ordered only a handful of copies, which were displayed on a shelf labelled “Irish interest”.When I came on the scene in the mid-80s, just about the whole of Birmingham was in denial. A veteran crime reporter on the Birmingham Post told me he had never even heard it suggested that the wrong men had been convicted, even though they had been noisily protesting their innocence for a decade. The central library initially refused to stock my book on the case, and the city’s principal bookshop ordered only a handful of copies, which were displayed on a shelf labelled “Irish interest”.
As for the West Midlands police, they were utterly uninterested. Eventually, after the matter had been raised in parliament, Assistant Chief Constable Tom Meffen was sent to interview me. He could not have been more reluctant. His opening words were: “We’ve been dragged here by the scruff of the neck by the Home Office.” For many years, faced with mounting evidence that there was something seriously wrong, the police position was, “Oh well, we never said we had got all of them. The ones Mr Mullin tracked down must be in addition to those already inside.” This remained their position, even after the disgraced serious crimes squad had been disbanded and the convictions of the six innocent men quashed.As for the West Midlands police, they were utterly uninterested. Eventually, after the matter had been raised in parliament, Assistant Chief Constable Tom Meffen was sent to interview me. He could not have been more reluctant. His opening words were: “We’ve been dragged here by the scruff of the neck by the Home Office.” For many years, faced with mounting evidence that there was something seriously wrong, the police position was, “Oh well, we never said we had got all of them. The ones Mr Mullin tracked down must be in addition to those already inside.” This remained their position, even after the disgraced serious crimes squad had been disbanded and the convictions of the six innocent men quashed.
To my knowledge there have been at least four police inquiries in the last 25 years. Two by Devon and Cornwall police, one of which resulted in the convictions being quashed; and two by the West Midland police, the most recent of which seems to have been an honest attempt to get to the truth. Inevitably, however, it concluded that – 40 years after the event – no evidence is likely to be forthcoming that will lead to convictions. That is my view too. Two of the bombers are dead and, unless the remaining two were to come forward and confess, there is no prospect of their being brought to justice.To my knowledge there have been at least four police inquiries in the last 25 years. Two by Devon and Cornwall police, one of which resulted in the convictions being quashed; and two by the West Midland police, the most recent of which seems to have been an honest attempt to get to the truth. Inevitably, however, it concluded that – 40 years after the event – no evidence is likely to be forthcoming that will lead to convictions. That is my view too. Two of the bombers are dead and, unless the remaining two were to come forward and confess, there is no prospect of their being brought to justice.
For that reason I have not joined the campaign for the case to be reopened. The only effect of doing so is to raise expectations that cannot be fulfilled, which can only lead to further upset for the relatives of the victims.For that reason I have not joined the campaign for the case to be reopened. The only effect of doing so is to raise expectations that cannot be fulfilled, which can only lead to further upset for the relatives of the victims.
• Chris Mullin is the author of Error of Judgment – The Truth About the Birmingham Bombings• Chris Mullin is the author of Error of Judgment – The Truth About the Birmingham Bombings