Birmingham Cathedral hosts sombre event to mark 35th anniversary of IRA pub bombings which killed 21 people
Nov 23 2009 by Paul Bradley, Birmingham Mail
“WE will never forget.”
That was the message at a sombre event to mark the 35th anniversary of the IRA pub bombings which killed 21 people and injured 182 others.
A small group of relatives and survivors gathered outside St Philip’s Cathedral in Colmore Row to remember the dead.
In a moving ceremony, family members placed wreaths on a memorial to the victims, while representatives of police, ambulance and fire services also laid floral tributes.
Stanley Bennett, aged 80 and from Castle Vale, lost his 18-year-old daughter Lynn in the attack.
As he laid a wreath on the memorial yesterday, the pensioner said that the families had lost hope of ever seeing a trial.
“I come down to this memorial every year,” he said. “My memories are very painful.
“We still haven’t got over it even today, it’s something that will always be with us.
“It doesn’t matter now what words are spoken. It’s too late for anything to be done now, we just have to get on as best we can.”
Councillor Michael Wilkes, the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, said the city would never forget the atrocity.
