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| The '''Birmingham pub bombings''' were bombings by the ] ( |
The '''Birmingham pub bombings''' were bombings by the ] (PIRA){{Fact|date=July 2007}} in ], ] on ], ] which killed 21 people and injured 182<ref>''The Birmingham Framework -Six Innocent Men Framed for the Birmingham Bombings''; Fr. ] and Fr. Raymond Murray (1976) </ref>. The devices were placed in two central Birmingham pubs: ''the Mulberry Bush'', at the foot of the ], and the ''Tavern in the Town'', a basement pub on ] (now renamed the Yard of Ale). | ||
| ==The attacks== | ==The attacks== | ||
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| Collectively, the attacks were the most injurious ] attacks in England until the ]; 21 people were killed (ten at the Mulberry Bush and eleven at the Tavern in the Town) and 182 people were injured. | Collectively, the attacks were the most injurious ] attacks in England until the ]; 21 people were killed (ten at the Mulberry Bush and eleven at the Tavern in the Town) and 182 people were injured. | ||
| In the book 'Error of Judgement' ] ( |
In the book 'Error of Judgement' ] (a Provisional IRA ] arrested later for other bombings) is quoted as telling ] and ] (two members of the ]) that the phone boxes that were supposed to have been used by PIRA volunteers to phone in a warning about the bombs were vandalised so they had to find another one some distance away.<ref>pp 153-154, Error of Judgement, Mullin, Chris, 3rd Edition, Poolbeg Press</ref> | ||
| Thirty years after the bombings in 2004, ] President ] expressed regret for the loss of life in the attacks, but no apology or admission of responsibility by the IRA has yet been made.<ref>'' ] ] 2004)</ref> | Thirty years after the bombings in 2004, ] President ] expressed regret for the loss of life in the attacks, but no apology or admission of responsibility by the Provisional IRA has yet been made. <ref>'' ] ] 2004)</ref> | ||
| ==The Dead== | ==The Dead== | ||
Revision as of 10:24, 9 August 2007
| Birmingham Pub Bombings | |
|---|---|
| Location | Birmingham, United Kingdom |
| Date | 21 November 1974 2014 - 2025 (GMT) |
| Target | Public Houses in Birmingham |
| Attack type | Time bombs |
| Deaths | 21 |
| Injured | 182 |
| Perpetrators | Provisional Irish Republican Army |
The Birmingham pub bombings were bombings by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) in Birmingham, England on November 21, 1974 which killed 21 people and injured 182. The devices were placed in two central Birmingham pubs: the Mulberry Bush, at the foot of the Rotunda, and the Tavern in the Town, a basement pub on New Street (now renamed the Yard of Ale).
The attacks
At 20:14 a man with an Irish accent telephoned the Birmingham Post newspaper and said that there was a bomb in the 17 storey Rotunda office block housing the Mulberry Bush pub. Police went to the Rotunda to investigate. The police started to check the upper floors of the building but failed to clear the crowded pub which was situated at street level. Just twelve minutes later, at 20:25, the bomb exploded, devastating the crowded bar.
Warnings had just reached the equally crowded Tavern in the Town pub nearby, when at 20:27 a second bomb there exploded. A third device, outside a bank on Hagley Road, failed to detonate.
Collectively, the attacks were the most injurious terrorist attacks in England until the July 2005 London bombings; 21 people were killed (ten at the Mulberry Bush and eleven at the Tavern in the Town) and 182 people were injured.
In the book 'Error of Judgement' Mick Murray (a Provisional IRA volunteer arrested later for other bombings) is quoted as telling Paddy Hill and Johnny Walker (two members of the Birmingham Six) that the phone boxes that were supposed to have been used by PIRA volunteers to phone in a warning about the bombs were vandalised so they had to find another one some distance away.
Thirty years after the bombings in 2004, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams expressed regret for the loss of life in the attacks, but no apology or admission of responsibility by the Provisional IRA has yet been made.
The Dead
Jane Davis, 17; Desmond Reilly, 20; Eugene Reilly, 23; Maureen Roberts, 20; Marylin Nash, 22; Pamela Palmer, 19; Stephen Whalley, 21; Lynn Bennett, 18; Anne Hayes, 19; Michael Beasley, 30; Maxine Hambleton, 18; John Jones, 51; Charles Gray, 44; John Rowland, 46; Stanley Bodman, 51; Trevor Thrupp, 33; James Caddick, 40; Paul Davis, 20; Neil March, 20; Thomas Chaytor, 28; James Craig, 34
A memorial plaque, commemorating the victims of the bombings, is sited in the grounds of St. Philip's Cathedral, in the centre of Birmingham.
The Birmingham Six
In addition to those killed and injured in the bombings, further victims were the Birmingham Six: Hugh Callaghan, Patrick Hill, Gerard Hunter, Richard McIlkenny, William Power and John Walker.
They were immediately accused of carrying out the attack, convicted and served sixteen years in jail before the convictions were overturned after the scientific evidence was discredited and the documents setting out the confessions were found to be unreliable due to police tampering. The judge at the appeal declared of the police witnesses at the original trial: "They must have lied."
External links
- http://birmingham999.co.uk
- On this day report by the BBC on the incident
- On this day report by the BBC on the six men being charged
References
- The Birmingham Framework -Six Innocent Men Framed for the Birmingham Bombings; Fr. Denis Faul and Fr. Raymond Murray (1976)
- pp 153-154, Error of Judgement, Mullin, Chris, 3rd Edition, Poolbeg Press
- Adams expresses regret for Birmingham pub bombings Irish Examiner 22 November 2004)
- http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/S/0128/S.0128.199103150004.html
- http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19980710/ai_n14177272
- Expert Witnesses And The Duties Of Disclosure & Impartiality: The Lessons Of The IRA Cases In England; Beverley Schurr
- CAIN:Chronology of the Conflict 1991