Birmingham pub bombings: Gardai silent on whether it interviewed self confessed IRA bomber over BBC interview

The Gardai have declined to say whether they interviewed a self confessed IRA bomber from Dublin who said that he took “collective responsibility” for the 1974 Birmingham Pub Bombings and other attacks.
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By Philip Bradfield
Published 22nd Aug 2023, 17:42 BST
Updated 22nd Aug 2023, 18:11 BST

The Irish police force was speaking after the Crown Prosecution Service in England said that after an extensive review, it would not be charging anyone with the atrocity.Twenty-one people were killed by the two IRA bombs in Birmingham in 1974.

There was hope a new police investigation could bring justice, after a legacy inquest was held in 2019.A man claiming to be an IRA leader - identified only as Witness O - gave evidence from Dublin to the inquest named Michael Christopher Hayes, a self confessed IRA bomber who now lives in south Dublin, as being one of those responsible.

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Mr Hayes has always strongly denied having anything to do with the attack, but said previously he took “collective responsibility” for IRA bomb attacks in the region.He told the BBC in 2017 he was speaking out to give "the point of view of a participant" and that he was "a participant in the IRA's activities in Birmingham".

Michael Hayes gave an interview to the BBC in 2017 about the IRA Birmingham Pub bombings. Image: BBCMichael Hayes gave an interview to the BBC in 2017 about the IRA Birmingham Pub bombings. Image: BBC
Michael Hayes gave an interview to the BBC in 2017 about the IRA Birmingham Pub bombings. Image: BBC

His statement prompted calls in 2019 for the Irish police to interview him.

Asked today whether it had interviewed Mr Hayes or Witness O, Garda said is "a matter for the UK Authorities".It added: "It is a matter for the UK Authorities to confirm whether or not they have requested assistance from either An Garda Síochána or any Agency within this jurisdiction.”

Julie Hambleton, whose sister Maxine was killed in the 1974 IRA bomb attacks, was sceptical about why nobody could be charged.

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"Michael Hayes said on national television that he took 'collective responsibility' for the bombings," she said. "But if I was to walk into a police station and say that I would never see the light of day again."

In 1991 the Director of Public Prosecutions Barbara Mills sealed all files relating to a Devon and Cornwall inquiry into the West Midlands Police investigation until 2069.

Ms Hambleton added: "The one good thing to come out of the CPS decision not to prosecute is that the way is now cleared for a full public inquiry which would open all these files up to us," she added.