PROVED INNOCENT The Story of Gerry Conlon of the Guildford Four

Hardback. SIGNED. In October 1989, Gerry Conlon was the first of the Guildford Four to walk away from the British courts, cleared at long last of charges of murder. This book describes his childhood in West Belfast, his growing awareness of 'the Troubles' and his time in England. It also describes his arrest, how false confessions were forced from him by the police, his imprisonment and the long campaign which finally secured the overturning of the Guildford Four's convictions. The book addresses the complex issues surrounding the case: the methods of the police, the quality of justice meted out by the British courts and the conditions of our prisons. The author also describes the painful effects of his imprisonment upon his family. His father, Guiseppe Conlon, travelled over to England when Gerry Conlon was arrested to try to help his son. Despite the fact that he was a very sick man he was arrested as part of the Maguire Seven, the 'gang' accused of making the Guildford bombs. Guiseppe Conlon died in prison, protesting his innocence with his last breath. The author was only 20 when he was given 5 life sentence. His story is shocking and far-reaching - an account of 15 wasted years in prison as a hostage to Britain's need to avenge the terrible bombings at Guildford at whatever price. The case of the Guildford Four was one of the biggest scandals in British legal history. Illus. 234pp. h/back. With large insc. to ffep with date and time which reads : "I shook the hand of the man that shook the British Empire, Finbar...". Vg- in sl. frayed and creased Vg- dw. PRESENTATION COPY INSC. AND SIGNED BY GERRY CONLON.