Birmingham pub bombing justice campaigners: We must fight anything which shackles a free Press
Last week, Behind Local News reported on how draconian new legislation being proposed by the House of Lords would have far reaching implications on local journalism — not least its ability to hold power to account. One group of people who know all too well how hard it is to take on the Government, the Justice4the21 campaigners fighting for the victims of the 1974 Birmingham Pub Bombings, know that’s a step too far. Andy Richards, the Birmingham Mail journalist who has worked closely with the campaigners, reports.
Justice4the21 campaigners have praised the Birmingham Mail as their “staunchest ally”.
The group is battling for truth, justice and accountability for the victims of the Birmingham pub bombings.
It said that the Mail had helped them win a new inquest for the 21 victims and raised their profile around the world.
Additionally, the Mail’s consistent support has played a large part in helping them raise £30,000 so far to pay lawyers to represent them in their fight to have the issue of the bombers explored at the inquest — after the Government and Legal Aid Agency snubbed their pleas for assistance.
IRA terrorists struck on November 21 1974, destroying two Birmingham bars, The Mulberry Bush and The Tavern In The Town, killing 21 and injuring almost 200 others.
A bungled police investigation led to six men being wrongly convicted and spending 17 years behind bars in the country’s biggest miscarriage of justice.
Spokeswoman Julie Hambleton, whose sister, Maxine, was among the dead, said: “Over the years there has only been one cliche for the press — bad press.
“However, we are now in a whole new era where the press have integrity, respect and compassion that many in government could learn from.
“The Birmingham Mail is not merely a newspaper, it has become our saviour and the Guardian Angels over right versus wrong for our loved ones who are not here to fight for truth, justice and accountability themselves.
“The government are fighting tooth and nail to stop and block us at every opportunity from getting the truth. Any extension of constraints on the free press will only give the government more power to hide more corruption that they don’t want the public to know.
“We can never thank the Birmingham Mail enough. We simply would not be where we are today without them.
“For a start, it was the Mail which discovered the legal loophole revealing that the original inquests had never been properly concluded.
“They have fought our cause, defended us and consistently shone the spotlight on the police and the government to highlight the lies, hypocrisy and sham of those in authority and the contempt with which we are treated.
“The nation is now waking up to this and we have a growing army of supporters both here and abroad.
“But if we are to win our cause, we will only do it with the continued support of the Birmingham Mail which will have our gratitude forever.
“We don’t trust many people — we’ve been kicked in the teeth too often.
“But we trust the Mail because they have proved over and over again that they don’t see us simply as a story — they share our desire for the truth of the pub bombings to be exposed, and for justice and accountability.”
- How damaging could Section 40 be if the House of Lords succeeds in pushing it through? Read more about here on the News Media Association website
