Page 255 - Once a copper 10 03 2020

Yet, unknown to us at that particular time, there was another shock waiting in the
wings, following that dreadful night. Just a couple of days after the Birmingham
bombings, we learned that all the deceased had been identified, except for two,
whose descriptions were circulated. They were two West Indian lads, lying in the
central mortuary. A constable from Nechells Green Police Station, phoned Mike
Davey and told him that our two robbers, who had been on bail for the Odeon
Cinema job, hadn’t reported at the police station since 7.0 p.m. on the 21st
November. They were required to report every evening at that same time, as part of
the conditions of their bail, and knowing the two lads as we did, were surprised only
because they weren’t the kind who would run.

Both myself and Mike Davey, immediately went to the central mortuary and were
stunned to find our two lads, Neil Marsh and Paul Davies, lying there. The last of the
victims of the bombings to be identified. We soon discovered from witness
statements, that both young men had been seen walking past the front of the
Mulberry Bush when the bomb exploded and were caught in the blast. They hadn’t
stood a chance.

To those of us involved with dealing with the two pub bombings, it felt extremely
surreal, as if we were playing out a nightmare. It didn’t take long though, for the
reality of what had taken place to strike home, and only then did we quiver, cry,
denounce those responsible for such atrocities, and wish that they would bring back
hanging. That was the level of emotion and distorted thinking we experienced as a
result of what had taken place.

Five men were arrested later that same night at Heysham, by customs officers, as a
result of a stop and search operation requested at all ports, as a result of the
Birmingham attacks. They were: Billy Power, John Walker, Richard McIlkenny, Paddy
Hill and Gerry Hunter. All five of them had travelled by train from Birmingham, earlier
that evening, just before the two bombs that caused so much devastation and
tragic loss of life, exploded.

The five men detained told police at nearby Morecambe, they were travelling to
Belfast to attend the funeral of James McDade, the IRA bomber whose body was
being flown from Birmingham airport on the same night. A sixth man, Hugh
Callaghan, had seen them off at the railway station. He was later arrested the
following day, on the 22nd November 1974.

Following initial cursory forensic tests on the men’s hands, they were found to have
been in contact with nitro-glycerine, or as the defence later argued, a substance
which gave the same appearance as that of explosive nitro.
Initial forensic tests at the home of Callaghan, also revealed traces of a similar
nature inside the kitchen area. As previously mentioned, this was the Serious Crime
Squad’s first major incident, and crews were dispatched to Morecambe to escort
the five men back to Birmingham for interviewing and further investigation.

According to police reports, Billy Power confessed to having been actively engaged
in the bombings, while still being held at Morecambe police station. Again, Page255
according to police reports, Callaghan, Walker and McIlkenny, also confessed as to