Birmingham Six

Birmingham Six
source
Name	Birmingham Six
Fate	Exonerated

Birmingham Six. The case of the Birmingham Six is a notable example of a miscarriage of justice in the United Kingdom, involving Hugh Callaghan, Patrick Hill, Gerard Hunter, Richard McIlkenny, William Power, and John Walker. The six men were wrongly convicted of carrying out the Birmingham pub bombings in 1974, which killed 21 people and injured 182 others in Birmingham. The bombings were attributed to the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) by British authorities, including Home Secretary Roy Jenkins and Prime Minister Harold Wilson.

Introduction

The Birmingham Six case is often compared to other high-profile miscarriages of justice, such as the Guildford Four and the Maguire Seven, which also involved allegations of IRA involvement and police misconduct. The case has been the subject of numerous documentaries, including those by BBC and Channel 4, and has been referenced in books by authors such as Chris Mullin and Paddy Hill. The European Court of Human Rights has also considered the case, as have politicians like Tony Blair and Gerry Adams.

Background

The Birmingham pub bombings occurred on November 21, 1974, at the Mulberry Bush pub and the Tavern in the Town pub in Birmingham City Centre. The bombings were part of a campaign of violence by the Provisional IRA during The Troubles, which also included the Aldershot bombing and the M62 coach bombing. The investigation into the bombings was led by West Midlands Police, with assistance from MI5 and the British Army. The police arrested several people, including Hugh Callaghan and Patrick Hill, who were later convicted of the bombings.

Arrest and Conviction

The Birmingham Six were arrested in 1974 and 1975, and were subjected to interrogation and coercion by the police. The men were forced to sign confessions, which were later used as evidence against them in court. The trial of the Birmingham Six took place in 1975, with Justice Bridge presiding. The men were convicted of murder and terrorism-related offenses, and were sentenced to life imprisonment. The convictions were based largely on the confessions, which were later disputed by the men. The case was widely reported in the media, including by The Times and the Daily Telegraph.

Appeal and Exoneration

The Birmingham Six appealed their convictions several times, but were initially unsuccessful. However, in 1987, the Court of Appeal quashed the convictions and ordered a retrial. The retrial was held in 1991, and the men were finally exonerated. The exoneration was based on new evidence, including forensic evidence and testimony from witnesses. The case was widely reported in the media, including by ITV and Sky News. The exoneration of the Birmingham Six was welcomed by politicians such as Neil Kinnock and John Major.

Aftermath

The exoneration of the Birmingham Six led to a public inquiry into the case, which was chaired by Lord Justice Scott. The inquiry found that the police and prosecution had engaged in misconduct, including the use of coercion and the withholding of evidence. The inquiry also found that the judiciary had failed to properly investigate the allegations of miscarriage of justice. The case has had a lasting impact on the criminal justice system in the United Kingdom, and has led to reforms such as the establishment of the Criminal Cases Review Commission and the Independent Police Complaints Commission. The case has also been the subject of academic research by universities such as University of Birmingham and University of Oxford. Category:Miscarriages of justice