Pub bombs campaigner in court over refusal to pay Covid fine
BIRMINGHAM pub bombings campaigner Julie Hambleton has appeared in court after refusing to pay a £200 fine for allegedly breaking Covid rules after taking part in an anniversary convoy to mark the deadly blasts.
Miss Hambleton appeared alongside two men at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, accused of attending a gathering “of more than two people” in breach of Covid-19 regulations.
All three were on the motor rally through Birmingham, on November 21 last year, to mark the 46th anniversary of the double IRA blasts, which claimed 21 lives, including Miss Hambleton’s older sister, Maxine.
It is alleged Miss Hambleton and the others contravened the rules outside West Midlands Police’s city headquarters at Lloyd House, where the convoy broke up.
Miss Hambleton, who leads the Justice for the 21 (J421) group, which campaigns for the Birmingham bombers to be brought to justice, denied any wrongdoing, entering a not guilty plea to the charge.
She has previously called the force’s decision to fine her and other campaign supporters “disgusting, tasteless and crass”.
Also in court, charged with the same offence in connection with the rally, were Kevin Gormley, 53, of Beacon Road, and Michael Lutwyche, 54, of Hayes Grove, both Birmingham. They both denied the allegation.
As the three appeared in court, about 30 J421 supporters gathered outside.
After issuing the fines, the force
said it had issued notices to a number of people for an alleged breach in Colmore Circus, Birmingham, “following a review” of the circumstances. In court, Philip Rule, representing Miss Hambleton and the other defendants, said their lawyers had invited the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to review “whether the prosecution is to continue in the public interest”.
He added the Crown had since reviewed the case, and asked for the court to direct they provide reasons to the defence lawyers, in due course.
Mr Rule said once it had a “summary of reasons” it would be looking to respond with “our concerns about whether there really is a public interest, in light of actions the defendants properly took” to keep the gathering Covid-safe.
Belfast-based lawyers KRW Law, representing Miss Hambleton, said a written request to the force’s chief constable, Sir David Thompson, earlier this year to annul the fines had been rejected. In a statement issued ahead of the hearing, the law firm said that the force, “in bringing this prosecution, raise serious questions over West Midlands Police taking inconsistent approaches to protests” and its “understanding and application” of Covid rules.
The case was adjourned for a twoday trial back at the same court, starting September 7.
Nobody has ever been brought to justice for the pub bombs, although the force did arrest and release a man from Belfast in connection with the bombings last year.
Miss Hambleton has been critical in the past of the force’s handling of the investigation to track down those responsible for the pub bombings.