Birmingham pub bombings families believe they are ‘closer than ever’ to public inquiry

Julie Hambleton speaks to media outside the West Midlands Combined Authority offices in Birmingham, West Midlands, after the families of the 1974 Birmingham Pub Bombings victims met with Home Secretary Priti Patel (Steve Parsons/PA)

The sister of a Birmingham pub bombings victim has said she believes they are “closer than we ever have been” to a public inquiry after a meeting with the UK Home Secretary.

Julie Hambleton, along with other families affected by the 1974 blasts, met with Priti Patel on Wednesday to discuss the possibility of an inquiry, as well as making their views clear on the proposed “amnesty” put forward by Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis.