Birmingham pub bombings: Could the IRA terrorists behind the 1974 attacks be 'named and shamed'?

Hearing legal submissions from the victims' lawyers, coroner Peter Thornton QC was responding when he said: "They can be, as it were, named and shamed in the press without restraint?

"In practice they (those individuals) would have to be legally represented?"

Responding, Heather Williams QC, the lawyer for the family of Eugene and Desmond Reilly, two brothers killed in the Tavern in the Town blast, said: "That must be right."

It was also suggested inquest evidence could include what Mr Thornton called "relevant evidence" which led to the conviction of the Birmingham Six.

Again responding to Ms Williams' submissions, he asked whether hypothetically in her view, an inquest jury could also, as part of their factual findings, determine the "guilt or innocence" of the six, despite their convictions being overturned by the Court of Appeal.

Mr Thornton said: "Is it your reading that the case can be re-heard in these proceedings?

Ms Williams replied: "Yes, there's nothing legally to prevent that."

The coroner then asked: "Does that include in your submission, police evidence and the scientific evidence, which formed the basis of their successful appeal?"

Ms Williams, for the Reillys, replied: "Yes sir."

Mr Thornton then asked: "Jurors could make findings of fact as to guilt or innocence as to Birmingham Six, but simply not name them?"

Ms Williams replied: "To be clear, we're not suggesting evidence should be combined to a particular individual."

On Wednesday, a pre-inquest review hearing was told that under current rules governing inquests, people suggested of having criminal liability in evidence cannot be named in any conclusion by the coroner.

However, Ms Williams suggested the identities could and should still be part of any possible evidence at the hearings, expected to start later this year.

If named in the public hearings, coroner Mr Thornton has powers to make orders banning the reporting of that person's identity.

Mr Thornton is expected to rule later on the scope of the inquests, including whether the issue of perpetrators is included.

The hearings, expected to start in September, will explore the circumstances of the deaths of 21 people killed in the IRA bombings of two pubs in 1974.

A botched police investigation into the attacks led to the wrongful convictions of the Birmingham Six - one of the most infamous miscarriages of justice in British legal history.

Lawyers for government agencies, including West Midlands Police, oppose the inclusion of identifying potential perpetrators, on the basis there is currently no "significant information" as to who they might be.

The review hearing being held in Birmingham continues.