Coroner Richard Travers says the Guildford pub bomb that killed 5 people was planted by a young identified couple.
o 5 people were unlawfully killed by an IRA bomb in Guildford in 1974Â
o Coroner says the bomb could have been planted by a “courting couple.”
Five people were killed by an Irish Republican Army bomb in Guildford in 1974 that was possibly planted by a couple, a coroner concluded. The IRA set off explosive devices at two soldiers’ pubs in Surrey town as its campaign for terror escalated. Coroner Richard Travers said that the main bomb was probably planted by a young unidentified couple.
The sister of one of the victims had criticised the inquiry, claiming that the families of the deceased had been excluded. After the hearing, Surrey Police stated it was considering a reinvestigation of the bombings. Four soldiers and a civilian had died in the blast at Guildford’s Horse & Groom pub. Another bomb blew up half an hour later at the Seven Stars.
The Guildford Four and Maguire Seven were convicted wrongly for the terror attacks before an IRA terror cell claimed responsibility for them. Among those who died were 21-year-old civilian Paul Craig and soldiers Ann Hamilton, 19, William Forsyth, 18, Caroline Slater, 18, and John Hunter, 17. 65 people were reported to be injured. Following the hearing, Cassandra Hamilton, sibling of Private Ann Hamilton, had wanted her lawyers in court, but her demands for legal aid and a jury were shot down.
She claimed that her family had been unable to study documents, examine witnesses, or demand for a jury and an Article 2 inquiry which would have scrutinised the state’s duty to safeguard life. Ms Hamilton said that the coroner, Surrey Police, Ministry of Defence, and the Met publicly-funded barristers and that she would be making a request to have costs published.
The court heard that it had been the first night out for many soldiers who were mere weeks into their training. Travers estimated that the first bomb was planted on 5 October between 17:30 and 20:50, when it exploded. He was more or less certain that it was planted by a young man and woman, calling them a “courting couple”.
He said that given that the two bombs were planted in two pubs in tandem it is likely that the conspiracy had more than just two individuals involved. Mr Travers said that all five of those who died had fallen into a hole made by the blast in the pub cellar floor. The coroner estimated that Caroline Slater had been most likely sitting directly above the bomb.
The five who died had made “fateful movements” moments before the explosion, Travers said. All of them were in close proximity of the device when there came a loud bang, a bright flash and the pub lights went out”, which was packed with about 120 people. Travers said the bomb was about 4.5kg and had a large number of high-powered explosives equivalent to 18 sticks of dynamite.
Deputy Chief Constable, Surrey Police, Nev Kemp, said that the inquest was regarding the young people who lost their lives and many others who got injured in the attacks. He hoped that the proceedings had allowed the families to have a clearer perspective of what exactly happened. He said that he was grateful to the former officers, for giving evidence about what was surely an extremely traumatic experience for them.
He said that along with the process of disclosure, they have been assessing all material collected to consider whether reinvestigation is an option.
