Police in Ireland asked to interview a self-confessed IRA bomber for the Birmingham pub blasts inquests
Michael Hayes, 69, has accepted 'collective responsibility' for the 1974 attacks in two pubs
POLICE in Ireland have been asked to interview a self-confessed IRA bomber for the Birmingham pub blasts inquests.
Michael Hayes, 69, has accepted “collective responsibility” for the 1974 attacks in two pubs.
But he said he did not know who planted the devices, which killed 21.
The request was made at a pre-inquest review in Birmingham yesterday.
Peter Skelton QC, counsel to the inquests, added: “We’re discussing our involvement in any interview with West Midlands Police.”
The force also confirmed in the hearing that it was “also considering an application for My Hayes to be interviewed”.
But campaigners Justice4the21 will boycott the hearings after the naming of alleged suspects was ruled out.
Lawyers for 10 families issued a joint statement, saying they would attempt to crowd-fund a judicial review of the coroner’s ruling.
Brian Davis, the brother of the youngest victim Jane Davis, was at the hearing and said he “absolutely” welcomed the decision to call on Irish police to interview Mr Hayes.
He told the coroner: “It seems bizarre to me that journalists and serving MPs can track down these people and name them publicly, on TV, but the police and judiciary fail to be able to do the same thing.”
What happened in the Birmingham pub bombings
Speaking at the hearing, which began an hour later than planned after news of the relatives’ boycott, the Coroner said “the door will always be open”.
He added: “Clearly the inquest into the deaths of the 21 who died on November 21 1974 will proceed in any event.
The inquests are unlikely to start until December at the earliest.