THE son of a Birmingham pub bombings victim has described the decision by a coroner to appeal against a ruling to name suspects in the tragic IRA attack as “soul-destroying”.

Paul Rowlands, from Lye, said he is disappointed that Sir Peter Thornton QC is using public money to appeal against a High Court ruling on the scope of the hearings.

Two judges had recently ruled that the coroner was wrong to decide that the names of the suspects would not be part of new inquests for the victims – but Sir Peter has said he will apply for permission to appeal against this latest judgement.

He said he intends to ask the Court of Appeal to rule on the “vital” issue to avoid delay in the inquest – which was scheduled to take place later this month – and uncertainty in the future.

Paul’s father John (pictured below) was one of 21 people killed in the double IRA blasts at the Mulberry Bush and Tavern In The Town pubs on November 21, 1974.

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Alongside his wife Soraya, the couple are among nine families who have been tirelessly campaigning and raising money to reopen the inquest into the deaths.

Paul told the News: “We were on such a high when the two judges made their ruling, so for the coroner to go back on the decision is soul-destroying.

“The families have had to raise so much money to even get to this stage, we’ve been out in the streets with buckets and collecting at football grounds, and we thought we’d achieved something monumental.

“Why the coroner – who has an unlimited well of public money behind him – doesn’t want the perpetrators to be named, I don’t know. But by allowing it will quash all the rumours and names of innocent people.

“We didn’t expect this and find it quite ludicrous that we have to fight against a coroner to get justice for the mass murder of 21 people.”

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A young Paul Rowlands pictured with his father John. Photo: Paul Rowlands

Sir Peter had decided in July last year that the names of the alleged perpetrators would not be part of the framework of new inquests, but at a hearing at Birmingham Justice Centre on January 26, he was ordered to reconsider this decision, following a judicial review.

A spokesman for the inquest said the coroner “regrets” his appeal application will mean the hearings cannot proceed as scheduled.

They added: “Work will continue on matters that are not related to the issues considered in the High Court judgment. The coroner will continue to work with the families, the other interested persons at the inquests, and potential witnesses.”