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Coroner orders fresh inquests into Birmingham pub bombings

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

The senior coroner for Birmingham and Solihull Louise Hunt announced the decision after several review hearings and receiving "significant" new information.

During the recent hearings, families of some of those killed in the blasts in the Mulberry Bush and Tavern in the Town pubs put forward a claim that the British state had knowledge of the attacks planned by the IRA before they were carried out.

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Birmingham Six member 'very pleased' with ruling

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

Paddy Hill speaking after the coroner's decision. Credit: ITV News

"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."

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Coroner orders fresh inquests into Birmingham pub bombings

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