Pub bomb families’ anger as outgoing chief reveals regrets
Campaigners claim Sir David Thompson achieved nothing in bid to bring bombers to justice
THE families of the 21 people murdered in the 1974 IRA pub bombings have shared bitter recriminations over the handling of the ongoing case by departing Chief Constable Sir David Thompson.
Former policeman Bill Craig, whose brother Jimmy was the last victim to die, claims the police chief was given ‘a knighthood for failure.’
Relatives spoke out as the West Midlands force’s Chief Constable shared an update on the investigation into the terror attack as part of a round of media interviews ahead of his retirement next month.
Families said he had achieved ‘nothing’ in the fight for justice and had failed to support them in their battles. The Chief Constable spoke of his regret at being unable to solve the case.
But he added: “It is one of my regrets that there is a lot of criticism still of West Midlands Police around the pub bombings from the families.
“This was a big failing of the force in 1974, a miscarriage of justice. Attempts were made then in the 1990s to bring people to justice, we reviewed that and then reopened the investigations after the inquests into the deaths.
“I have always said I would like to get to one of two conclusions. The desirable one is we bring someone to justice.
“If that doesn’t happen then what we do need to do is set out the work the force has done clearly so the public – because we do try very hard to brief the families – understand the work the force has done over a good decade or so on this.”
He added it will now be down to the incoming chief constable, Craig Guildford, to look at and conclude the inquiry.
But his comments have triggered a furious reaction from families who say the force has failed them yet seem more concerned at hushing up critics than bringing justice.
They continue to press the Home Secretary for a public inquiry into the handling of the mass murders.
Two bomb blasts ripped apart the Tavern in the Town and Mulberry Bush pubs in the city centre on the night of November 21, 1974, killing 21 people and injuring more than 200. A third bomb failed to go off and was recovered, but later lost, by West Midlands Police.
Nobody has ever been brought to justice for the attacks, which happened at the height of an IRA bombing campaign on mainland Britain.
The families say Sir David’s regret over the continued frustration and criticism of his force is ‘insulting’, with one family saying: “He has some brass neck.”
Another added that ‘the man has
The families don’t need patronising updates from his force, they need a relentless commitment to justice for the 21 victims
no shame’, arguing he could have taken the opportunity to reiterate regret for the failings of him and his force.
“He doesn’t express any regret for the fact that West Midlands Police set about wrongfully convicting six men, or that they have failed to secure a single conviction for the bombings, over 48 years.
“The families don’t need patronising updates from his force, they need a relentless commitment to justice for the 21 victims.”
Another added: “Chief constables come and go and the investigation limps on, never coming to anything substantive. There was systemic failure by the investigating authorities in the murder of 21 Birmingham citizens – words can’t describe how we feel, the anger and frustration down the years.
“They said there was anger over no collaborative approach across the three jurisdictions of England, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which they say resulted in a failed ‘insular’ investigation
“This process has left a stain of suspicion and rumour within our city and is why we will continue to engage with the Home Secretary to finish a process of engagement commenced by her predecessor (Priti Patel) into the case.”