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Ministers have ruled out launching a open inquiry into the Provisional IRA's 1974 Birmingham city pub bombings.

The Devastating Attack

On 21 November 1974, 21 people were lost their lives and 220 injured when explosive devices were detonated at the Mulberry Bush pub and Tavern in the Town establishments in Birmingham, in an attack commonly accepted to have been orchestrated by the IRA.

Judicial Consequences

Not a single person has been found guilty for the attacks. Back in 1991, 6 men had their convictions quashed after enduring more than 16 years in prison in what stands as one of the worst errors of justice in British history.

Relatives Campaign for Justice

Families have for decades pushed for a open probe into the explosions to find out what the state was aware of at the time of the tragedy and why not a single person has been prosecuted.

Government Decision

The minister for security, Dan Jarvis, said on Thursday that while he had deep empathy for the families, the cabinet had determined “after careful deliberation” it would not establish an inquiry.

Jarvis said the authorities thinks the reconciliation commission, set up to look into fatalities connected to the Northern Ireland conflict, could investigate the Birmingham incidents.

Advocates Respond

Activist Julie Hambleton, whose 18-year-old sister Maxine was murdered in the explosions, commented the announcement demonstrated “the government don't care”.

The 62-year-old has for years campaigned for a open inquiry and stated she and other grieving relatives had “no plan” of taking part in the new body.

“There is no real impartiality in the panel,” she stated, adding it was “equivalent to them grading their own work”.

Demands for Document Disclosure

For years, grieving relatives have been calling for the disclosure of files from government bodies on the event – specifically on what the authorities knew prior to and following the incident, and what information there is that could bring about legal action.

“The whole UK government system is opposed to our relatives from ever learning the facts,” she stated. “Only a statutory judicial public inquiry will grant us access to the files they claim they lack.”

Legal Powers

A statutory open probe has distinct judicial capabilities, encompassing the authority to compel individuals to attend and disclose information related to the investigation.

Earlier Hearing

An hearing in 2019 – secured by grieving families – concluded the victims were illegally slain by the IRA but failed to identify the identities of those culpable.

Hambleton stated: “The security services told the presiding official that they have zero documents or documentation on what remains England’s longest open multiple killing of the 20th century, but now they want to pressure us to engage of this investigative body to share information that they state has never existed”.

Official Criticism

Liam Byrne, the Member of Parliament for the local constituency, described the government’s announcement as “extremely disappointing”.

In a statement on social media, Byrne wrote: “Following so much time, so much grief, and numerous let-downs” the families merit a procedure that is “impartial, court-supervised, with complete authorities and unafraid in the quest for the reality.”

Ongoing Sorrow

Reflecting on the families' persistent sorrow, Hambleton, who chairs the campaign group, said: “No family of any horror of any type will ever have closure. It is impossible. The grief and the anguish persist.”