Birmingham pub bombings: Scope of inquests 'could be widened'

The scope of inquests into the deaths of 21 people in the Birmingham pub bombings could be widened after permission was granted for a judicial review, according to a law firm.

KRW Law, which is representing the families of 10 victims, called it an "important achievement in the ongoing quest for truth, justice and accountability for our clients".

The inquests will explore the circumstances of the deaths of 21 people killed in the IRA bombings of two pubs in 1974.

On the night of November 21, the IRA planted two bombs which ripped through the Tavern in the Town and nearby Mulberry Bush pubs, injuring 182 people.

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.

A coroner had ruled out naming alleged suspects in evidence - but campaign group Justice4the21 is fighting to see this overturned and previously said it will "no longer participate" after the issue of perpetrators was ruled out.

KRW Law said it had applied for a judicial review on the scope of the inquests which has been granted for November 27.

Anurag Deb, from the firm, said: "Being granted permission to challenge the Ruling on Scope of the Coroner will enable us to pursue the perpetrator issue before the judges in the Divisional Court, which will engage important points of law relating to the investigations of historic human rights violations - which are all too real to those who are relatives."

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