Birmingham pub bombings inquest costs police £216k
The inquests into the Birmingham pub bombings cost West Midlands Police £217,000, it has been revealed.
The figure was given by Chief Constable Dave Thompson at a meeting of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s strategic board.
It includes £194,000 for the inquest proceedings, £16,000 for the judicial review that followed, £5,880 for data systems access licence and £907 for a production order against the BBC.
A total of 21 people were killed on November 21, 1974, when two IRA bombs tore through two pubs in Birmingham city centre, the Mulberry Bush and the Tavern in the Town.
An inquest into the deaths was initially opened in November 1974, but was adjourned to allow for a criminal investigation.
In 1975, six men – who became known as the Birmingham Six – were convicted for the bombings, but were acquitted 16 years later.
Fresh inquests into the deaths were ordered in 2016 and started earlier this year following a series of delays.
They concluded that there were no errors in the way police responded to an IRA warning call and that their actions did not contribute to the loss of life.
Families of the victims say they are still determined to see those responsible brought to justice.
