Memo may point to what MI5 knew of Birmingham bombings

THE coroner who is considering reopening the inquests into the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings has received “significant” new information about whether MI5 knew about the IRA attacks in advance.

Louise Hunt, senior coroner for Birmingham and Solihull, said she had received “sensitive information” from an undisclosed source in a submission sent to her office on April 27.

Speaking today ahead of what is due to be her final decision on whether to reopen the inquests, Ms Hunt said the material related to an allegation that the security services had some advanced notice of the bombings that killed 21 people. She said: “It’s significant and does raise concerns in relation to potential advanced notice. That’s as much as I can say.”

Ms Hunt said she was not aware the information had ever appeared in the public domain.

Lawyers for families of those killed in the bombings of the Tavern in the Town and Mulberry Bush pubs on Nov 21 1974 have already alleged the security services may have had prior knowledge of the attacks. Relations at the hearing in Solihull, West Mids, said they had not been told what was in the secret memo.

The original inquests into the deaths were suspended in 1975 after being overtaken by a criminal inquiry.