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Birmingham Six member Paddy Hill dies aged 80

Paddy Hill spent almost two decades in prison before his conviction was quashed in 1991
Paddy Hill spent almost two decades in prison before his conviction was quashed in 1991

A man who was wrongly convicted of IRA attacks on pubs in Birmingham in 1974 has died at the age of 80.

Paddy Hill was among a group of men from Northern Ireland jailed for the atrocity who became known as the Birmingham Six.

Some 21 people were killed in explosions at two Birmingham city centre pubs in November 1974.

The Birmingham Six spent almost two decades in prison for the bombings before their convictions were quashed in 1991.

Paddy Hill speaks to the crowds gathered outside the Old Bailey in London in 1991 after the convictions of the Birmingham Six were quashed by the appeal court judges

The Miscarriages of Justice Organisation (MOJO) said in a post on its Facebook page that Mr Hill died peacefully at home this morning.

It said: "It is with great sorrow Paddy died this morning peacefully at home. Our condolences to his family at this sad time.

"We ask that you respect the family's privacy."

Mr Hill founded the group in 2001 to help others.


RTÉ Archives: Paddy Hill appears on The Late Late Show with two other members of Birmingham Six after release in 1991


Just three of the Birmingham Six are still living, including Gerry Hunter, John Walker and Billy Power.

Hugh Callaghan died in 2023 and Richard McIlkenny died in 2006.