Guildford Pub Bombing – Inquests to be Reopened

Published on: 31 Jan, 2019
Updated on: 1 Feb, 2019

The Horse and Groom pub after the bombing.

Inquests into the deaths of the five fatal victims of the 1974 Guildford pub bombings are to be reopened. Lawyers were reported to be considering making a request for them to be reinstituted in August 2017.

See: Lawyers May Ask for Guildford Pub Bombing Inquests to be Reopened and 40 Years After The Guildford Pub Bombings: A Time For Reflection

As well as the five fatalities, over 60 people were injured in the IRA attack on the Horse and Groom pub in North Street in October 1974. The Seven Stars pub in Swan Lane was also bombed but following a police warning, no one was killed.

Paul Hill, Gerry Conlon, Patrick Armstrong and Carole Richardson, the “Guildford Four” were arrested following the incidents and originally held at Guildford Police Station (then in Leapale Road). On October 22, 1975, they were jailed for life jailed for life at the Old Bailey.

In 1976 members of the “Balcombe Street” gang were said to have claimed responsibility for the Guildford bombings and said the imprisoned four were innocent.

After years of campaigning the Court of Appeal overturned the convictions and released the four on October 19, 1989.

In February 2005 an apology was given to the Guildford Four by Prime Minister Tony Blair.

In a statement, Surrey Police said: “[We] will work to fully support the coronial process following today’s decision (Jan 31st) to resume inquests into the deaths of five people in the 1974 Guildford pub bombings.

“In anticipation of new inquests, the force had already begun cataloguing all material held in relation to the bombings and over the past 12 months has logged more than 4,000 documents.

“This task remains on-going and is complex in nature. The bulk of material has been in storage for more than 40 years and was archived as per the processes of the 1970s and not as they would be today in a structured, indexed and electronic format.  Due to the large volume of material, it is anticipated it will take a further 12 -18 months to complete this process.

“As outlined at the pre-inquest review hearing in December, the case is not being actively re-investigated or made subject to formal review at this time, but once all the material held has been catalogued, an assessment will be carried out to consider whether re-investigation is a viable option.

“Prior to today’s decision, relatives of each of the five victims of the bombings have been contacted to outline the work being undertaken in respect of these materials by Surrey Police and the purpose of our proposed assessment.”

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