The ‘Birmingham Six’ were wrongly convicted for the deadly Birmingham pub bombings of 1974, with their release in 1991 sending shockwaves throughout the UK criminal justice system. Pivotal in securing their freedom, Chris Mullin was welcomed to City St George’s to reflect on the case, and its repercussions.
By Dr Shamim Quadir (Senior Communications Officer), Published
On Thursday 21 November 1974, the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) planted bombs in two Birmingham pubs, killing 21 people and injuring about 200 more.
The bombings in the central Birmingham pubs the Mulberry Bush, and the Tavern in the Town, were at the time the deadliest terrorist attacks in the UK since World War II.
Taken into custody the day after, the ‘Birmingham Six’ — Paddy Hill, Gerry Hunter, Richard McIlkenny, Billy Power, Johnny Walker and Hughie Callaghan — were subjected to flawed forensic testing, police brutality, and soon provided forced confessions. They were wrongly convicted of the bombings in March 1975.
Over 16 years later, after a second full appeal, their convictions were declared unsafe and quashed by the Court of Appeal, with the release of the prisoners in March 1991 sending shockwaves through the UK criminal justice system.
Fifty years of reflection
On Wednesday 20 November 2024, a day ahead of the 50th anniversary of the tragedy, Chris Mullin was invited to City St George’s, University of London to share how he uncovered fresh evidence which helped lead to the acquittal, including his claim to have met some of those who were actually responsible for the bombings, and the implications that has had for British justice.
Mullin, a former Labour MP and investigative journalist, was pivotal in securing the release of the prisoners through his investigative journalism while at the Granada current affairs programme, World in Action.
In 1985, the first of several World in Action programmes casting doubt on the men's convictions was broadcast.
In 1986, Mullin's book, Error of Judgment: The Truth About the Birmingham Pub Bombings, set out a detailed case supporting the men's claims that they were innocent.
Mullin’s work uncovered the high level of police misconduct, and corruption within the British judiciary who were involved in the case at the time.
Reflecting on the forensic testing of the accused, Mullin shared at City St George's:
Describing his process for searching for information about who may have committed the bombings, Mullin reflected on a detective practice he said he would have hoped West Midlands Police would have undertaken themselves:
While none of the prisoners he visited claimed to know who had committed the pub bombings, they did know which of their group (of around 17 or so) in the West Midlands IRA were at liberty on the day of the bombings, and it was from this that Mullin drew up a list of further people of interest to talk to.
Mullin has subsequently been criticised for not revealing the names of his sources, but has always reiterated that the aim of his discussions was to gain further information which could lead to the 'rescue' of the innocent, and did not hope to gain a conviction of the guilty.
He shared that he was provided his information based on the assurance of anonymity to crucial parties he interviewed.
In 2022, West Midlands Police applied for an order under the Terrorism Act 2000, which would require Mullin to disclose material relating to his investigations into the bombings. He fought this on the grounds that it would be a fundamental breach of the principle that journalists must protect their sources. A stance backed by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ).
On 22 March 2022, the case was ruled in favour of Mullin at the Central Criminal Court (the Old Bailey).">
At City St George’s, Mullin went on to speak about why miscarriages of justice are still happening despite major changes in police processes and the judicial system, and fielded a wide range of questions from the public audience, before a book signing session.
The book, Error of Judgment: The Truth About the Birmingham Pub Bombings, is published by Monoray, and available to buy online.
This event was organised by Dr Paul Lashmar, Reader in Journalism at the School of Communication & Creativity, City St George’s and Professor Richard Ashcroft, Executive Dean, The City Law School, City St George’s.
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