UPDATED: The Pogues among those paying tribute to Birmingham Six member Paddy Hill

Paddy Hill, one of the six men who were wrongly convicted of IRA bombing attacks on pubs in Birmingham in the 1970s has died at the age of 80.

He was jailed alongside the other members of the Birmingham Six and spent 17 years in prison for the 1974 bombings which killed 21 people.

Following their release in 1991, Hill created Glasgow-based Miscarriages of Justice Organisation (MOJO) to help those wrongly convicted both during their time in prison and after release.

“It is with great sorrow Paddy died this morning peacefully at home," MOJO said in a statement. “Our condolences to his family at this sad time. We ask that you respect the [family’s] privacy. May he rest in eternal peace.”

The other members of the Birmingham Six are Gerry Hunter, Johnny Walker, Hugh Callaghan, Richard Mcllkenny and Billy Power. Mcllkenny died in 2006 aged 73.

Not without his rock 'n' roll credentials, Paddy contributed a poignant spoken word intro to the 1999 Alabama 3 song, 'The Thrills Are Gone'. Recalling the police interview where he was pressured into making a false confession, he said: "There was a cop standing there with two guns on him — shoulder holster and waist holster — and I remember thinking to myself, ‘Jesus! Some poor bastard's in for a hard time,’ but I never thought it was me. And the Birmingham Police come on the scene and they started battering and torturing me. They were telling me things about my wife and they were telling me about the mobs being outside my house, ‘screaming for my wife’s and my kids’ blood,’ and all that, and ‘the only thing that was separating the mob from my family was their line of policemen,’ and all of this crap. If I didn't make a statement they would call off the police cordon and let the mob have the wife and kids."

Alabama 3 weren't his only musical admirers with The Pogues, Pete Wylie and the Miami Showband's Stephen Travers among those posting in his honour.

RIP Paddy Joe Hill https://t.co/dLvhGUVukZ https://t.co/pIBLkljIOA pic.twitter.com/NMNv2Crqfi

— The Pogues (@poguesofficial) December 30, 2024

Today we lost a true hero, sadly. Paddy Hill, one of the most inspiring people I ever met. I’ve watched him bring a room full of Home Office pathologists to their knees. I’ve brought him on to speak to the WAH! audience. Paddy’s fight for justice will go on. You changed my life.

— Pete Wylie is WAH!🌟 (@petewylie) December 30, 2024

I am so very sad to hear that Paddy Hill of the ‘Birmingham Six’ has passed away. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. #BritishJustice pic.twitter.com/JI4IczubjX

— Stephen Travers (@MiamiShowband) December 30, 2024

Meanwhile, Miriam O'Callaghan posted the link to this fascinating archive interview with Paddy and Gerry Conlon.

So sad to hear about the death of Paddy Hill of the Birmingham Six. At least he’s now reunited with his great friend Gerry Conlon. What a nightmare they lived through. Here they are chatting in 2014 shortly before Gerry died. https://t.co/EPKBtZ0HV4

— Miriam O'Callaghan (@MiriamOCal) December 30, 2024