A man whose father was killed in the Birmingham pub bombings said he feels frustration and anger at the government’s decision not to conduct a public enquiry into the unsolved case.

Paul Davies was one of 21 people who were killed when two bombs destroyed the Mulberry Bush and Tavern in the Town pubs in the city in November 1974, with 220 others injured.

His son Paul Bridgewater, who was born three months later, said although he was disappointed by the decision he would continue to fight to get answers.

The government in a statement on Thursday said it believed an existing independent investigation would be effective.

“My dad was a fighter, he would want his voice and the other [victims’ voices] to live on and find out what happened,” said Mr Bridgewater.

“It’s not a lot to ask for, some may think it’s nearly been 51 years, let it go, but to me it is quite embarrassing that we still haven’t found out the full facts of what happened,” he said.

Security minister Dan Jarvis said on Thursday while he had deep sympathy with the families, “after careful consideration” the government would not commit to an inquiry.

In a statement, Jarvis said it was the government’s “firm belief” the existing Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) could effectively investigate.

The ICRIR is a body established to look into deaths during Northern Ireland’s decades-long conflict, known as The Troubles.

Mr Bridgewater said the ICRIR was not fit for the purpose of those killed in the Birmingham bombings and he felt the families were being pushed into a commission that won’t benefit them.

“For years they’ve [the government] lied to us and said there were no documents but now they’re saying we can find stuff out and want us to go into this comission to get the truth.

“The only way we’ll be able to find the full truth is through a public inquiry,” he said.

MP for Hodge Hill Liam Byrne described the government’s decision as “deeply disappointing”.

“They’re asking for nothing more than for truth and for justice after so many let downs over five decades.

“This is the largest unsolved mass murder in Britain, and no one has been brought to justice, not least because of multiple failures of the state,” he said.