‘Too many questions’ left by death of McGuinness Pub bombs campaigner fears for truth as ex-IRA man dies
BIRMINGHAM pub bombings campaigner Julie Hambleton said she was saddened former IRA commander Martin McGuinness had died “without answering so many questions”.
McGuinness died early on Tuesday after being diagnosed with a rare heart condition.
IRA bombers blew up two city centre pubs in 1974, killing 21 people including Ms Hambleton’s sister Maxine.
Yet justice was never been served after a botched investigation that saw the innocent Birmingham Six wrongly jailed.
Responding to McGuinness’s death, Ms Hambleton said: “I feel sad because here was a man who I believe could have given us so many answers to our questions and the questions of many others who are victims of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. His family have our genuine condolences. We are not evil people.
“But he has had a full life and has a family, children, grandchildren – how lucky for him.
“What about my sister, Maxine and Jane Davies and the rest of the 21 who were killed in the pub bombings?
“Yes, McGuinness was part of the peace process but a true statesman and politician would have told what he knew – who killed who and when, and where victims are buried because there are many families of the disappeared over there who have not even had bodies to bury.
“Now he has gone and he and those who know the truth are dying, which is why we believe it’s time for Gerry Adams to be honest about what he knows.”
In the past Justice4the21 wrote to both McGuinness and long-time Sinn Fein colleague Gerry Adams asking for their help but never received a reply.
They held protests when McGuin- ness was in England as a guest at a state dinner hosted by the Queen at Windsor Castle and when he spoke at Warrington Peace Centre.
Ahead of his visit to Warrington, McGuinness said: “My heart goes out to them because they are people who have suffered as a result of the conflict in Northern Ireland.”
But Brian Hambleton, who his Julie’s brother, said they wanted the exIRA boss to name names – not share in their grief.
“He should have been on that stage begging for forgiveness, at the very least, giving out names of the perpetrators.
“The cowards who have killed and massacred people and made it possible for him to bomb his way into power.”
The Justice4the21 group is preparing for a new inquest into the deaths of the pub bombings victims following a lengthy campaign backed by the Post’s sister paper the Birmingham Mail. It is set to start in September.
Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips said she wished McGuinness had helped her constituents find peace.
Ms Phillips has been a staunch supporter of Justice4the21, which is made up of families seeking justice and accountability over the Birmingham pub bombings.
Ms Phillips said: “People can do good and bad, things aren’t simple. People should be neither reviled or worshipped.
“I wish he’d helped my constituents find peace.”
He has had a full life and has a family, children, grandchildren – how lucky for him Julie Hambleton