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Birmingham pub bombings: 'I drove my sister to her death' | Birmingham pub bombings: 'I drove my sister to her death' |
(10 days later) | |
The brother of a Birmingham pub bombings victim felt he had "driven my sister to her death" by giving her a lift to the city on the night she died. | The brother of a Birmingham pub bombings victim felt he had "driven my sister to her death" by giving her a lift to the city on the night she died. |
Brian Hambleton, whose sister Maxine was among 21 killed in the 1974 blasts, recalled his final memory of her as inquests into the atrocity resumed. | Brian Hambleton, whose sister Maxine was among 21 killed in the 1974 blasts, recalled his final memory of her as inquests into the atrocity resumed. |
His was one of a number of emotional "pen portrait" tributes read at the outset of the new hearings. | His was one of a number of emotional "pen portrait" tributes read at the outset of the new hearings. |
Family members said the dead were "cruelly robbed" of their lives. | Family members said the dead were "cruelly robbed" of their lives. |
Two bombs ripped through the Mulberry Bush and Tavern in the Town pubs on 21 November, killing 21 and injuring 182. | |
Mr Hambleton told the hearing at Birmingham Civil Justice Centre he had driven 18-year-old Maxine into the city in return for her ironing his shirt. | Mr Hambleton told the hearing at Birmingham Civil Justice Centre he had driven 18-year-old Maxine into the city in return for her ironing his shirt. |
He said: "I will always remember her closing the car door and walking away from me, waving at me. My joyful, carefree, upbeat, talented sister I would never see again." | He said: "I will always remember her closing the car door and walking away from me, waving at me. My joyful, carefree, upbeat, talented sister I would never see again." |
"I had literally driven my sister to her death," he said. | "I had literally driven my sister to her death," he said. |
Jurors also heard one of the victims, Michael Beasley, gave away a "lucky charm" to the wife of the Mulberry Bush's landlord that night. | Jurors also heard one of the victims, Michael Beasley, gave away a "lucky charm" to the wife of the Mulberry Bush's landlord that night. |
"He told her he'd found a lucky Cornish pixie charm on the bus on the way to town that night and gave the charm to her," said Peter Skelton QC, for the coroner. | "He told her he'd found a lucky Cornish pixie charm on the bus on the way to town that night and gave the charm to her," said Peter Skelton QC, for the coroner. |
"Mary kept the charm and always carried it with her." | "Mary kept the charm and always carried it with her." |
The inquest heard statements about 16 victims on Tuesday, including: | The inquest heard statements about 16 victims on Tuesday, including: |
The remaining statements are due to be heard on Wednesday. | The remaining statements are due to be heard on Wednesday. |