THE son of a Birmingham pub bombings victim said he is optimistic that his lawyers will receive government funding before the inquest into the tragic IRA attack finally takes place.

Paul Rowlands’ father John 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.

Alongside his wife Soraya, the couple are among nine families who have been tirelessly campaigning for a special funding model to help pay their legal costs at the reopened inquest into the deaths.

Paul, from Lye, who was just 11-years-old when his father was killed, was present at the latest pre-inquest hearing which took place at Birmingham Civil Justice Centre on Thursday (February 23).

He told the News: “Our legal team, who are still working pro bono, put in a very good show at the hearing on Thursday and are in negotiation with the Legal Aid Agency.

“We have got closer. It has taken a little longer than we would have liked, but we are optimistic that there will be a funding solution in place before the next pre-inquest hearing on May 31.”

The inquest, which is expected to be heard in front of a jury towards the end of September, will explore whether the government and police forces had advanced warning of the attacks.

Thursday’s pre-inquest hearing was told there was not yet anything to suggest the state had been involved in a cover-up.

The Home Office, Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence were also asked for any relevant information into an alleged cover-up, but nothing has been found.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Prison Service and the Met Police will be asked to present information they might have in relation to the incident at the hearing in May.

During Thursday’s hearing, Coroner Peter Thornton QC said the inquest will be a “thorough and independent” investigation and also confirmed that it will be an Article Two inquest, seeking to establish answers about how the victims met their deaths but also the surrounding circumstances that led up to them.

Paul said he and his fellow campaigners “welcome” the decision, adding: “It has been a long time coming.

“The coroner did state that he had a responsibility to the families to make sure the inquest was as thorough as possible, and we are confident the coroner will be thorough and independent.

“We are still hopeful that we will be in a good position when the inquest starts at the end of September.

“The inquest will happen. I have no doubt about that. Our legal team are doing a huge amount of work behind the scenes to keep the process moving.”