Error of Judgment: The Truth About the Birmingham Bombings

by Chris Mullin

Book by Chris Mullin

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, History, Ireland

304 pages, Paperback

First published July 17, 1986

About the author

Chris Mullin is the former MP for Sunderland South, a journalist and author. His books include the first volume of his acclaimed diaries, A View From the Foothills. He also wrote the thriller, A Very British Coup, with the television version winning BAFTA and Emmy awards. He was a minister in three departments, Environment, Transport and Regions, International Development and The Foreign Office.

Reviews

[Gerard Hogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear concise but passionate dissection of the crown case against the Birmingham Six. Essential reading for anyone interested in miscarriages of justice, England in the 70s and the IRA threat. What struck me most was the Kafkaesque refusal by the authorities to accept that they got it wrong.
The Birmingham Six eventually got their belated justice. Now with recent news that there is to be a new investigation the 21 victims of the bombings must get theirs too.

[Damien Hanrahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

When reading non-fiction works I encounter a problem with how I review them. After a steady diet of pure fiction my whole life, trying to wean myself onto enjoying non-fiction works to the same extent is not automatic, and I find myself wondering if my enjoyment of the book reflects accurately how interested I am in a topic, or indeed the quality of the content, as my own lack of experience reading non-fiction might bring the enjoyment down.

I had this experience during the first half of this book. By the second half however all such reservations had evaporated. The book becomes nothing short of completing gripping. The book completely merits a 5 star rating.

Mullin's descriptions so utterly lack bias to the extent that you almost find yourself questioning the men's innocence, even with knowledge their innocence has been proven before reading. You initially find yourself sympathizing with the judge's decision you know is coming (however as the trial continues to be presented it would require a great deal of sympathy to not allow the sympathy to mutate into loathing).


This work satisfies its goal so completely and methodologically it would not be unfair to suggest the men's continued incarceration after its publication is a bigger disgrace than their original conviction. The book does not err, it possesses no hint of vagueness or rambling, and leaves you simultaneously outraged and sick to your stomach. A truly brilliant piece of work

[Ipswichblade · Rating 5 out of 5]

The version I read was from 1989 which meant the innocent Birmingham Six still had two more years in prison. This is a superb book which documents the events of the Birmingham pub bombings and beyond right up to the time that Chris Mullin meets one of the actual bombers. A must read, it shows what happens when fear takes over and the political need for "something to be done" is so high that facts and the truth are ignored

[Andrew Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nightmarish illustration of our judicial system failing at every single level. This is truly the stuff of nightmares. It matters not that these men were ultimately declared innocent. They were destroyed. Read this book and pinch yourself that this travesty did actually happen. And it seems that those individuals who failed in their duties, including senior judges, escaped censure. Grotesque and shocking.

[Michael Pittuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

A phenomenally well-written book. It’s easy to see now the quality and clarity of journalism can have such an impact and it takes some balls to take such clarity to the people that need, but don’t necessarily want, to hear it.

[Harry Hipkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't remember even buying this one, but I passed my degree so it can't be that bad!