A member of the ‘Birmingham Six’, a group of men wrongfully convicted of IRA attacks on pubs in Birmingham, has passed away.
Patrick Joseph Hill died peacefully in his home on Monday morning, the Miscarriage of Justice Organisation (MOJO) have said.
Mr Hill was one of six men found guilty of the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings which led to the death of 21 and injured 182.
The Birmingham Six served a 17-year stretch in prison before their sentences were overturned in 1991.
After his release, Mr Hill went on to found MOJO which helps people who were imprisoned but proclaim innocence for crimes they were accused of.
MOJO announced Mr Hill’s passing in a social media post sending condolences to his family.
The statement said: “Our condolences to his family at this sad time. We ask that you respect the families privacy.
“May he rest in eternal peace.”
The organisation consists of criminologists, lawyers and law students that provide their knowledge and expertise on voluntary basis.
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna expressed her “deepest sympathies” to Mr Hill’s family.
She said: “On behalf of the SDLP I extend deepest sympathies to the family of Paddy Hill, who I was fortunate to meet and spend time with in the past. He was a thoroughly Belfast man – decent, outspoken, combative and with no side to him.
“He suffered the trauma and injustice of many lifetimes, brutal treatment by the West Midlands Police, being framed, and suffering torturously long false imprisonment.
“He so often acknowledged the support of those who stood by the Birmingham Six and fought for their release, and was contemptuous of those whose actions had caused his suffering and that of the victims of the Birmingham massacre.”
In a tribute to Mr Hill, Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibí hailed Mr Hill for his work which “challenged the establishment across these islands on human rights issues.”
The Meath West TD said: “It was with great sadness we learned of Paddy’s death this morning. Despite his wrongful conviction, Paddy, through his organisation MOJO, advocated for justice for all and challenged the establishment across these islands on human rights issues.
“I know his loss will be deeply felt by his family, friends and those who knew him. My thoughts and those of the Aontú family are with them today.”
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.