3 hours ago
6
Getty Images
The attacks saw bombs detonated at the Mulberry Bush and the Tavern in the Town pubs
The government has announced it will not establish a public inquiry into the IRA's 1974 Birmingham pub bombings.
Twenty-one people died and 220 were injured by bombs at the Mulberry Bush and Tavern pubs which remain unsolved.
In a statement on Thursday, security minister Dan Jarvis said while he had deep sympathy with the families, "after careful consideration" the government would not commit to an inquiry.
Julie Hambleton, whose sister, Maxine, died in the bombing said: "As long as there is breath in my body I will fight for justice."
She had previously said a failure to hold the inquiry would be "the epitome of moral and ethical turpitude", adding only an inquiry would reveal the truth.
Mr Jarvis said it was the government's "firm belief" that the existing Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) could effectively investigate the incident.
The ICRIR is an investigation body established to investigate deaths during Northern Ireland's decades-long conflict.
It was set up under the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act and introduced a ban on inquests and civil actions related to the so-called Troubles.
Speaking to the BBC on Thursday Ms Hambleton described the current commission as "tantamount to the government literally marking their own homework.
"There is no true independence at all as far as the commission is concerned."
PA Media
Julie Hambleton criticised the government's decision not to set up a separate inquiry
While the IRA never officially admitted responsibility, it is widely believed to have been behind the attacks.
An inquest in 2019 ruled the victims were unlawfully killed by the IRA, but did not determine the identities of those responsible.
The group known as the Birmingham Six were initially convicted of the attacks, but freed in 1991 after being cleared of involvement.
Mr Jarvis said the existing commission was created exclusively to investigate Troubles-related cases and operated independently from the government.
"The commission has been granted a wide range of powers to access information, including from government departments, the police, and the security and intelligence agencies," his statement said.
