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Authorities have ruled out initiating a open investigation into the IRA's 1974-era Birmingham pub explosions.

This Tragic Incident

Back on 21 November 1974, 21 people were lost their lives and two hundred twenty injured when explosive devices were set off at the Mulberry Bush and Tavern in the Town venues in Birmingham, in an assault widely believed to have been planned by the Provisional IRA.

Judicial Aftermath

Not a single person has been convicted for the incidents. In 1991, six men had their sentences overturned after enduring more than 16 years in prison in what remains one of the worst miscarriages of justice in UK history.

Families Fight for Justice

Families have for decades fought for a national probe into the attacks to discover what the authorities knew at the time of the event and why not a single person has been brought to justice.

Government Statement

The minister for security, Dan Jarvis, said on Thursday that while he had sincere sympathy for the families, the cabinet had decided “after detailed consideration” it would not establish an probe.

Jarvis said the administration thinks the reconciliation commission, created to examine deaths related to the Northern Ireland conflict, could investigate the Birmingham bombings.

Activists React

Activist Julie Hambleton, whose 18-year-old sister Maxine was killed in the attacks, commented the statement indicated “the administration don't care”.

The sixty-two-year-old has for decades fought for a national inquiry and said she and other grieving relatives had “no desire” of taking part in the investigative panel.

“There is no genuine independence in the panel,” she said, adding it was “tantamount to them marking their own work”.

Calls for Document Release

Over the years, grieving loved ones have been requesting the release of documents from government bodies on the incident – especially on what the government was aware of prior to and after the bombing, and what evidence there is that could bring about prosecutions.

“The whole UK government system is resisting our families from ever knowing the truth,” she declared. “Only a legally mandated judge-directed national inquiry will grant us access to the files they assert they do not possess.”

Official Capabilities

A official national investigation has specific official authorities, such as the authority to oblige participants to testify and reveal information associated with the inquiry.

Earlier Hearing

An hearing in 2019 – secured by grieving relatives – concluded the those killed were unlawfully killed by the Provisional IRA but did not determine the names of those accountable.

Hambleton commented: “Intelligence agencies advised the coroner at the time that they have zero documents or evidence on what remains Britain's longest unresolved atrocity of the 20th century, but currently they aim to pressure us to participate of this investigative body to share details that they state has never been available”.

Official Reaction

Liam Byrne, the Member of Parliament for the local constituency, described the government’s announcement as “extremely disheartening”.

Through a message on Twitter, Byrne wrote: “After so much time, such immense pain, and so many disappointments” the loved ones are entitled to a procedure that is “impartial, judge-led, with full powers and unafraid in the pursuit for the facts.”

Continuing Sorrow

Speaking of the families' persistent pain, Hambleton, who heads the advocacy organization, stated: “Not a single family of any horror of any kind will ever have closure. It is impossible. The suffering and the sorrow remain.”