As a memorial service was held today to mark the 30 thanniversary of the Birmingham bombings, Sinn Fein president Mr Gerry Adams poured cold water on recent expectation that the IRA would issue an apology for the bombing.
Mr Adams expressed his regrets about the atrocity but pointed to a statement issued by the IRA two years ago when it apologised for all civilians killed and injured during its campaign. "My recollection very clearly is that the IRA apologised for all the actions it engaged in which civilians were killed or injured," he said.
"I think the best thing is for us to make sure that these awful events never happen again," Mr Adams said.
Hundreds of people, including survivors, gathered in Birmingham at 4 p.m. to remember the 21 people who died when two bombs ripped through two city centre pubs.
Dozens more were injured in the attacks on The Tavern in the Town and the Mulberry Bush on November 21 st, 1974, which were blamed on the IRA and led to reprisal attacks on the city's large Irish community.
Six Irish men - Mr Hugh Callaghan, Mr Paddy Hill, Mr Gerard Hunter, Mr Richard McIlkenny, Mr William Power and Mr John Walker - were convicted of carrying out the atrocity in 1975. But in 1991, the Appeal Court quashed their convictions, bringing to an end one of Britain's most infamous miscarriages of justice.
Today's service at the Anglican St Philip's Cathedral, where a small memorial bearing the names of the dead lies in the churchyard, is being led by the city's first Irish-born Lord Mayor, Cllr Mike Nangle. Mr Nangle, who will light a candle and lay a wreath on behalf of the city, said the occasion would be marked by all sections of the community.
PA