Birmingham Pub Bombings (Hansard, 20 June 1988)

§ 64. Ms. Ruddock
To ask the Attorney-General for what reasons the Director of Public Prosecutions asked the Commissioner of the City of London police to establish an inquiry into contacts between the two principal Crown witnesses at the recent appeal by those found guilty of the Birmingham pub bombings.

§ The Attorney-General
I refer the hon. Lady to the answer that I have given to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin).

§ Ms. Ruddock
I thank the right hon. and learned Gentleman for that answer. Further to the points made by my hon. Friends the Members for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) and for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith), is the Attorney-General aware that the case is beginning to stain the entire fabric of our judicial system? Would it not be better for him to admit that British justice would be better served if he faced that fact and honestly admitted that something has gone seriously wrong in the Birmingham bombings case?

§ The Attorney-General
I have dealt with the questions that I have been asked, save that I did not answer part of the last question on why, in the first instance, inquiries were not made in relation to Police Sergeant Paton. The 839 reason is that the immediate source of that information to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South was disclosed to the police only recently.
On the latter part of the hon. Lady's question, my feeling is that the hon. Member for Sunderland, South might now usefully consider broadening his search for justice in this case by identifying those whom he claims he knows were responsible for the bombings and ensuring that steps can be taken to bring them to justice.

§ Mr. Beaumont-Dark
Does my right hon. and learned Friend accept that many of us supported the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) in the appeal procedure? It was the longest appeal in the history of this country. Is anything to be gained by trying to disparage and discredit British justice? No one had a fairer trial. No one had a fairer appeal. Is it not time that the Opposition looked at the IRA, instead of being its greatest supporters.

§ The Attorney-General
I regret efforts to undermine confidence in the outcome of an appeal that was conducted with all the qualities to which my hon. Friend referred.

§ 66. Dr. Reid
To ask the Attorney General what were the grounds for the Director of Public Prosecution's decision to ask the Commissioner of the City of London police for an inquiry into contacts between the two principal Crown witnesses at the recent appeal on the Birmingham pub bombings trial.

§ The Attorney-General
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that I have just given the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin).

§ Dr. Reid
With respect to the right hon. and learned Gentleman, another question was asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) and he did not answer it. It relates to why the witness to alleged collusion between two witnesses during the trial was not interviewed by the police. Will he assure the House that that witness will be interviewed? Do not the amply-sized nostrils of the Attorney-General's office even now begin to detect a whiff of scandal associated with the case? Is this not the fourth police inquiry into various aspects of the case without due result? Will the Attorney-General ask the Director of Public Prosecutions to publish the details of the investigations, so that Parliament and the public can be satisfied that British justice has been done in this case?

§ The Attorney-General
There has been no witness—to use the hon. Gentleman's expression—to collusion between witnesses in this case. The immediate source of the information to which the hon. Member for Sunderland, South has drawn attention was identified recently. He has been away on holiday. He was interviewed today on his immediate return. That is why I said that investigations into the matter are continuing.
On the more general part of the question, I greatly deprecate broad and general assertions that a carefully conducted inquiry, on the reference of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to the Court of Appeal, has been characterised by qualities that have not resulted in justice being carried out. That is much to be deprecated. Attempts to undermine confidence in the administration of justice in this country are harmful.
On the remaining part of the question, it is not the practice of the Director of Public Prosecutions to publish the details of police investigations.