– unfortunately BBC News Online have managed to forget to mention, even in passing, who was responsible for these IRA atrocities in 1974 – not once does the article mention the IRA, Northern Ireland, terrorism, murder or even how many people were murdered or maimed in Birmingham that day. Shameful – shameful incompetence or shameful bias – either way, this shoddy journalism doesn’t justify a compulsory annual BBC Telly Tax.
Ex-detective relives bomb memory
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If this was a UVF bomb and Mr. McGuiness was an ex-UVF conmmander the BBC would spare nothing to hound him with questions about responsibility and apologies, human rights and criminal prosecutions. But since it is IRA-Sinn Fein we are talking about, the cosy “no questions asked” set up continues.
Progress of a sort; the report on BBC News 24 of the anniversary did mention the IRA. it was however, to state that the bombings ‘were blamed on the IRA’.
In contrast with the BBC’s coverage of the 30th anniversary of the Birmingham bombing cited by Andrew, I note that the BBC’s reporting of the 30th anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan atrocities made clear from the outset who was responsible (the UVF):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3722595.stm
Not content with that, they also play up the “Brit collusion” angle here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/war/troubles/powersharing/bombs.shtml
This seems to be played up because of the level of sophistication of the attacks (presumably the devices, but possibly also the number of near simultaneous bombs).
However, when al-Qaeda demonstrates their prowess at detonating near simultaneously exploding bombs in different countries (Kenya & Tanzania) BBC’s Power of Nightmares considers that “idea that we are threatened by a hidden and organised terrorist network is an illusion”:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/3755686.stm
Typical BBC double standards.
“This seems to be played up because of the level of sophistication of the attacks (presumably the devices, but possibly also the number of near simultaneous bombs).”
I think Sinn Fein claimed to have(or have knowledge of)evidence that suggested that the British supplied intelligence rather than actually having any part to play in the bomb detonation itself.
Slightly O/T but in relation to the above. It’s interesting to note Osama’s rap sheet from the FBI:
http://www.fbi.gov/mostwant/topten/fugitives/laden.htm
“BOMBINGS OF THE UNITED STATES EMBASSIES IN DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA, AND NAIROBI, KENYA” are the only crimes specifically mentioned.
I just thought this was a bit strange…
Were you just checking whether you were on the top ten list yourself before deciding it was safe to mosey on over here? 🙂
I wouldn’t worry about that. I’d count as an international terrorist and they never seem to catch them.
You’d think the BBC might also mention that Foreign Office minister Chris Mullin claims to have known the identity of the bombers since about 1979. He has however refused to reveal the names, citing ‘journalistic confidentiality’.
Guess which newspaper he was working for at the time.
In his articles written in the 70s and 80s, and also in his book ‘Error of Judgement’, he states that revealing the names might have resulted in the guilty men being jailed, but would not have lead to the wrongly convicted ‘Birmingham Six’ being released. Apparently it’s better for six innocent men to be imprisoned and the guilty go free, than six innovent men AND the guilty men to be imprisoned.
Imagine a Tory Government minister who knew the names of the Dublin and Monaghan bombers but wouldn’t tell. The BBC would have been camped on his lawn for the last 20 years !