Coroner orders fresh inquests into Birmingham pub bombings

Ex-West Midlands Police officer Bill Craig, whose 34-year-old brother James died in the attacks, said he believed the pub bombings investigation would be "another Hillsborough".

"It's very complex, and it'll be a long process, but in the end this will end up as another Hillsborough."

West Midlands Police have said the force will support the new inquests and admitted the botched investigation into the Birmingham pub bombing was "the most serious failing in this force's history".

New inquests are to be held into the deaths of 21 people who were killed in the Birmingham pub bombings in Birmingham City Centre in 1974.

Julie Hambleton, whose older sister Maxine died in the bombings, said the decision represented "the most seismic day" for all the families.

After bursting into tears outside Council House in Solihull, she told reporters:

• the decision was "beyond our expectations"
• finding out the truth about the bombings "was fundamental"
• urged the bombers to find their "moral compass" and come forward
• called on the government to ensure families were given Legal Aid funding

Paddy Hill, one of the Birmingham Six wrongfully convicted of the pub bombings, said he was "very pleased" with the coroner's decision.

"This is the first step that has been taken to find out the real truth and the massive cover up [between] the judiciary, the government and Birmingham police over the last 41 years," he said outside Council House in Solihull.

But he said he was still "sceptical" that the truth will emerge before going on to repeatedly attack West Midlands Police.

"Birmingham police couldn’t spell the word truth. They’re rotten.”

Asked if his faith in the authorities had been restored by the decision, Hill replied: "No way, no way - the system has got worse."