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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Birmingham pub bombings: Coroner challenges inquest ruling | Birmingham pub bombings: Coroner challenges inquest ruling |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Inquests for the Birmingham pub bombing victims will not resolve the "enduring injustice" for victims and families, an appeal hearing has been told. | Inquests for the Birmingham pub bombing victims will not resolve the "enduring injustice" for victims and families, an appeal hearing has been told. |
| Coroner Sir Peter Thornton QC is challenging a ruling which said he was wrong to decide the names of suspects would not be part of the new inquests. | Coroner Sir Peter Thornton QC is challenging a ruling which said he was wrong to decide the names of suspects would not be part of the new inquests. |
| Two bombs exploded in the city centre in 1974, killing 21 people. | Two bombs exploded in the city centre in 1974, killing 21 people. |
| In January, High Court judges quashed a decision to exclude the "perpetrator issue" from the hearings. | In January, High Court judges quashed a decision to exclude the "perpetrator issue" from the hearings. |
| The bombings are widely believed to be the work of the IRA, making it the deadliest peacetime attack in the UK at the time. | |
| Lawyers representing the families said there was the "most pressing need for a thorough investigation". | Lawyers representing the families said there was the "most pressing need for a thorough investigation". |
| At the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, Peter Skelton QC, who is representing Sir Peter said: "The 21 people who died in the bombings and their families have suffered an enduring injustice. | At the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, Peter Skelton QC, who is representing Sir Peter said: "The 21 people who died in the bombings and their families have suffered an enduring injustice. |
| "The pain and grief they have borne has been exacerbated by the fact no-one has ever been held accountable in law. | "The pain and grief they have borne has been exacerbated by the fact no-one has ever been held accountable in law. |
| "But, for the reasons the coroner gave... these inquests cannot resolve the enduring injustice." | "But, for the reasons the coroner gave... these inquests cannot resolve the enduring injustice." |
| Victims' families are arguing it is necessary for the inquests to investigate the perpetrator issue because the police investigation into the bombings resulted in a "notorious miscarriage of justice". | Victims' families are arguing it is necessary for the inquests to investigate the perpetrator issue because the police investigation into the bombings resulted in a "notorious miscarriage of justice". |
| The Birmingham Six were jailed for the murders and served 17 years behind bars before their convictions were quashed. | The Birmingham Six were jailed for the murders and served 17 years behind bars before their convictions were quashed. |
| Five West Midlands Police officers were charged with perverting the course of justice in connection with the original criminal investigation, but a judge ruled in 1993 that a fair trial would be impossible. | Five West Midlands Police officers were charged with perverting the course of justice in connection with the original criminal investigation, but a judge ruled in 1993 that a fair trial would be impossible. |
| Analysis: Sima Kotecha, BBC News | Analysis: Sima Kotecha, BBC News |
| Still no inquest date - and still no idea what the scope of the inquest will entail. | Still no inquest date - and still no idea what the scope of the inquest will entail. |
| Today's arguments at the court of appeal involved going over some of the ground that's been heard before but it's a step closer to resolving the long running issue of whether the inquest should involve discussion of who was behind the attacks and why. | Today's arguments at the court of appeal involved going over some of the ground that's been heard before but it's a step closer to resolving the long running issue of whether the inquest should involve discussion of who was behind the attacks and why. |
| However, the appeal judges could take several weeks - if not months - to make a decision. | However, the appeal judges could take several weeks - if not months - to make a decision. |
| The latter undoubtedly will cause more frustration among some of the families who have fought for years for an inquest into the 21 deaths to be reopened. | The latter undoubtedly will cause more frustration among some of the families who have fought for years for an inquest into the 21 deaths to be reopened. |
| Follow Sima Kotecha on Twitter | Follow Sima Kotecha on Twitter |
| Hugh Southey QC, representing the families, said: "There has never been an effective and independent investigation into who was responsible for the atrocity. | Hugh Southey QC, representing the families, said: "There has never been an effective and independent investigation into who was responsible for the atrocity. |
| "There is no prospect of such an investigation occurring, apart from within the inquest. | "There is no prospect of such an investigation occurring, apart from within the inquest. |
| "Despite that, the appellant decided not to investigate the issue of who was responsible." | "Despite that, the appellant decided not to investigate the issue of who was responsible." |
| Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett, Lady Justice Hallett and Lord Justice McCombe are expected to give their ruling at a later date. | Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett, Lady Justice Hallett and Lord Justice McCombe are expected to give their ruling at a later date. |