RIP Paddy Joe Hill
31 December 2024
RIP Paddy Joe Hill who passed away on Monday aged 80 years old.

RIP Paddy Joe Hill, a shining star who supported so many of our campaigns to stop dawn raids over the years including shutting down Brand Street Home Office in a peaceful protest in November 2005. So many stories to remember. Unforgettable.
Belfast Telegraph:
Paddy Hill was “a thoroughly Belfast man – decent, outspoken, combative and with no side to him”, an MP for the city has said after the justice campaigner’s death at the age of 80.
Patrick Joseph Hill was one of the ‘Birmingham Six’, a group of men wrongfully convicted of IRA attacks on pubs in the English city.
He died peacefully in his home on Monday morning, the Miscarriage of Justice Organisation (MOJO) said.
Mr Hill was one of six men found guilty of the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings which led to the deaths 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.
The statement said: “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 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.
The South Belfast MP 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 Tóibín 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.
Labour MP Kim Johnson paid tribute to Mr Hill in social media post.
The Liverpool Riverside MP said: “Incredibly sad news about the passing of Paddy Hill, one of the wrongly convicted Birmingham 6.
“After spending 17 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, Paddy spent the rest of his life dedicated to helping victims of miscarriages of justice.”
TD for Dublin South West Paul Murphy said: “RIP Paddy Hill. The victim of the British injustice system who spent his life fighting injustice.
“He came to Ireland in 2017 to support #JobstownNotGuilty and spoke at our huge rally in Liberty Hall. He gave up his time and energy to support us and so many others.”