On a busy night in Birmingham, England, the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) carried out coordinated bomb attacks in two pubs, the Mulberry Bush and the Tavern in the Town. These bombings resulted in the deaths of 21 people and left more than 180 others injured. The IRA aimed to instigate fear and assert their political demands against British rule in Northern Ireland as part of the broader conflict known as 'The Troubles'. The attacks shocked the local community and the nation, prompting widespread condemnation and heightened tensions between different community factions. The bombings occurred amidst a climate of escalating violence in Northern Ireland, with increasing bombings and shootings contributing to significant civil unrest.

In the aftermath of the bombings, the police launched a massive investigation leading to the arrest of six Irishmen, who became known as the Birmingham Six. Through a series of questionable police practices, including coerced confessions and unreliable forensic evidence, these men were convicted in 1975 and sentenced to life imprisonment. However, doubts regarding their guilt persisted, and persistent campaigning by their families and supporters led to the reopening of the case. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, new evidence surfaced, revealing serious flaws in the initial investigation and trials.

In 1991, the Birmingham Six were ultimately acquitted, exposing significant failings within the British legal system and highlighting issues related to police conduct in Northern Ireland. Their case became a symbol of miscarriages of justice and raised questions about the treatment of Irish individuals in the UK. The bombings, the wrongful convictions, and the eventual acquittals served as a critical focus in discussions about civil liberties, fair trial rights, and the treatment of ethnic minorities within the British judicial system, further complicating the narrative and continuing impact of The Troubles.