On November 21, 1974, two bombs exploded at two popular pubs in Birmingham, England—the Mulberry Bush and the Tavern in the Town—killing 21 people and injuring 182 others. Six Irish men living in Birmingham were arrested shortly afterward: Paddy Hill, Hugh Callaghan, Richard McIlkenny, Gerry Hunter, Billy Power, and John Walker. Four of them signed confessions under pressure and violence during police interrogations. Controversial forensic evidence and coerced confessions led to them being sentenced to life in prison in 1975.In this episode, you’ll discover how the British legal system at the time failed to protect the rights of the accused, reinforcing convictions based on fabricated evidence and abuse. We’ll unpack how the Birmingham Six case was eventually overturned in 1991 and its impact on legal reform, including the creation of the Criminal Cases Review Commission. Explore the tragic contrast between the bombing victims and the
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On November 21, 1974, two bombs exploded at two popular pubs in Birmingham, England—the Mulberry Bush and the Tavern in the Town—killing 21 people and injuring 182 others. Six Irish men living in Birmingham were arrested shortly afterward: Paddy Hill, Hugh Callaghan, Richard McIlkenny, Gerry Hunter, Billy Power, and John Walker. Four of them signed confessions under pressure and violence during police interrogations. Controversial forensic evidence and coerced confessions led to them being sente...