[Lottie]

A memorial service is being held in Birmingham to remember the victims of the IRA pub bombings 30 years ago.

Survivors of the bombs, in which 21 people died and 200 were injured, have called on the IRA to apologise.

Two bombs ripped through two city centre pubs on 21 November 1974 in one of mainland Britain's worst terrorist atrocities.

Hundreds of people will join survivors in Birmingham at 1600GMT on Sunday to remember the victims.

The service is at the Anglican St Philip's Cathedral, where a small memorial bearing the names of the dead lies in the churchyard.

It will be led by the city's first Irish-born Lord Mayor, Cllr Mike Nangle.

"The IRA never admitted planting the Birmingham bombs, but there is little doubt they did it, " BBC Ireland correspondent Mark Simpson said.

He added: "There were hints last week that the IRA might use this weekend to apologise for what happened but so far they haven't done so."

Two pubs, the Tavern in the Town and the Mulberry Bush, were destroyed in the attacks in November 1974.

The bombings were blamed on the IRA and led to reprisal attacks on the city's large Irish community.

Six Irish men - Hugh Callaghan, Paddy Hill, Gerard Hunter, Richard McIlkenny, William Power and John Walker - were convicted in 1975 of carrying out the attacks.

Convictions quashed

But in 1991, the Appeal Court quashed their convictions, bringing to an end one of Britain's most infamous miscarriages of justice.

During Sunday's service, the Lord Mayor will light a candle and lay a wreath on behalf of the city.

He said the occasion would be marked by all sections of the community.

"People who have lost their relatives or were injured on that terrible day have to live with what happened every day of the week for the rest of their lives," he said.

"I hope this service to commemorate loved ones will provide them with some small measure of comfort."

At the service there will be a sermon by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols.

He is expected to talk about the need for reconciliation and forgiveness and condemn the cause that led to the bombings.

Meanwhile in Belfast, efforts to try to break the deadlock in the peace process are continuing.

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said on Saturday there was a chance of an historic breakthrough by Christmas.

Source

[Lottie]

Sinn Fein leader 'regrets' bombs


Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has said he "regrets" the Birmingham pub bombings which killed 21 people.

On the 30th anniversary of the bombs he said: "I certainly regret what happened and I make no bones about that."

Two pubs, the Tavern in the Town and the Mulberry Bush, were destroyed in the attacks in November 1974.

At a memorial service on Sunday to remember those who died the Archbishop of Birmingham urged people to "learn from our bitter past".

Hundreds of people joined survivors at the city's St Philip's Cathedral to remember the victims.

Asked whether the IRA should apologise, Gerry Adams pointed to a statement the IRA made two years ago when it apologised to all civilians killed and injured.

"My recollection very clearly is that the IRA apologised for all the actions it engaged in which civilians were hurt or injured.

Better world

"I think the best thing is for us to make sure that these awful events never happen again."

But one survivor said a "genuine" apology was still needed.

Maureen Mitchell told the BBC: "They have got to first admit that they were responsible before they can apologise and I have got to feel that that apology would be genuine."

At the service on Sunday the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, said: "Lives were destroyed and changed that night in a most brutal fashion which no cause could ever justify. The passing of time does not alter that.

"May ours be a prayer that those who acted in this way may come to a change of heart, acknowledge their deeds and take a step on the road of reconciliation.

"Everyone can make a difference by pledging to make just a small change in your lifestyle.

"May the lord bless us as we try to change, learning from our bitter past and building a better world for tomorrow."

Although the IRA never admitted carrying out the attack, the bombings were blamed on them and led to reprisal attacks on the city's large Irish community.

Six Irish men - Hugh Callaghan, Paddy Hill, Gerard Hunter, Richard McIlkenny, William Power and John Walker - were convicted in 1975 of carrying out the attacks.

Convictions quashed

But in 1991, the Appeal Court quashed their convictions, bringing to an end one of the UK's most infamous miscarriages of justice.

The Sunday service was led by the city's first Irish-born Lord Mayor, Cllr Mike Nangle.

He said the occasion would be marked by all sections of the community.

"People who have lost their relatives or were injured on that terrible day have to live with what happened every day of the week for the rest of their lives.

"I hope this service to commemorate loved ones will provide them with some small measure of comfort."

Following the service the Archbishop was joined by the Dean of Birmingham, The Very Reverend Gordon Mursell and the Lord Mayor in laying a wreath in memory of the dead in the Cathedral grounds.

Members of the public gathered round to watch the ceremony which started with a procession of clergy and choir members from the Cathedral door.

Asked whether the IRA should apologise, Gerry Adams pointed to a statement the IRA made two years ago when it apologised to all civilians killed and injured.

"My recollection very clearly is that the IRA apologised for all the actions it engaged in which civilians were hurt or injured.

Oh please... you call this an apology...I can think of a much better way to apologise to all the relatives and victims of the IRA..justice.

[Talon]

Thats a pathetic attempt apology... actually thats not even an apology, thats a 'well, yeah whatever'