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Birmingham pub bombings victims' families lobby for inquest Birmingham pub bombings victims' families lobby for inquest
(about 11 hours later)
Families of the victims of the Birmingham pub bombings are due to meet the home secretary later to call for an inquest into the deaths. Families of the victims of the Birmingham pub bombings have met the home secretary to call for an inquest into the deaths.
Twenty one people were killed and 182 injured when bombs exploded at two pubs in the city centre on 21 November 1974.Twenty one people were killed and 182 injured when bombs exploded at two pubs in the city centre on 21 November 1974.
Six men were jailed in 1975 but their convictions were quashed in 1991.Six men were jailed in 1975 but their convictions were quashed in 1991.
An inquest was opened days after the bombings but closed without hearing evidence in 1975 after the guilty verdicts.An inquest was opened days after the bombings but closed without hearing evidence in 1975 after the guilty verdicts.
Campaign group Justice 4 the 21, including a number of relatives of those killed, is lobbying the government to support a new inquest. Julie Hambleton, part of the Justice 4 the 21 campaign group, said the meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May and Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers had gone well.
Members are due to put their case to Home Secretary Theresa May and Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers later. "The home secretary was most sympathetic and came across very positive," she said.
Julie Hambleton, whose 18-year-old sister Maxine was killed, said: "What completely stumps us is the fact when the men were released... nobody stood up and said 'right, we've got to go back through the motions, we need to have a coroner's inquest, we need to have another investigation, we need to go above and beyond and go and look for the murderers'." "We are asking her for three things: firstly to support our quest for truth and justice, secondly to support our application for a new inquest and lastly for our legal team to gain access to files put under a 75-year embargo."
The group is also challenging a 75-year embargo preventing files relating to a Devon and Cornwall Police inquiry into the West Midlands Police investigation being released. She said no firm commitments had been made by the home secretary, but that the government was looking into the embargo.
Established by former Director of Public Prosecutions, Barbara Mills, it means the details will not be published until 2069. Ms Hambleton, whose 18-year-old sister Maxine was killed, said: "What completely stumps us is the fact when the men were released... nobody stood up and said 'Right, we've got to go back through the motions, we need to have a coroner's inquest, we need to have another investigation, we need to go above and beyond and go and look for the murderers'."
After the convictions were quashed, the former Director of Public Prosecutions, Barbara Mills, established a 75-year embargo on files relating to a Devon and Cornwall Police inquiry into the West Midlands Police investigation.
It means those files are not due to be released until 2069.
Birmingham pub bombingsBirmingham pub bombings