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Guildford Four's Gerry Conlon: Funeral takes place in Belfast Guildford Four's Gerry Conlon: Funeral takes place in Belfast
(about 2 hours later)
The funeral has taken place in Belfast for Gerry Conlon, who was wrongly convicted of the 1974 Guildford IRA pub bombings in Surrey, England.The funeral has taken place in Belfast for Gerry Conlon, who was wrongly convicted of the 1974 Guildford IRA pub bombings in Surrey, England.
His funeral was carried into St Peter's Cathedral in west Belfast by four members of the Birmingham Six. His coffin was carried into St Peter's Cathedral in west Belfast by four members of the Birmingham Six.
Mr Conlon died at home in west Belfast on 21 June, after an illness. He was 60-years-old.Mr Conlon died at home in west Belfast on 21 June, after an illness. He was 60-years-old.
He was one of the Guildford Four, who spent 15 years in prison before their convictions were quashed in 1989.He was one of the Guildford Four, who spent 15 years in prison before their convictions were quashed in 1989.
Lawyer Gareth Pierce who represented both the Guildford Four and the Birmingham Six was also at the funeral, as was Irish deputy prime minister Eamon Gilmore and a number of politicians.
His memoirs, Proved Innocent, were used as a basis for the Hollywood film In the Name of the Father, in which his part was played by Daniel Day-Lewis.His memoirs, Proved Innocent, were used as a basis for the Hollywood film In the Name of the Father, in which his part was played by Daniel Day-Lewis.
In a statement issued through his lawyer Gareth Peirce, Mr Conlon's family said: "He brought life, love, intelligence, wit and strength to our family through its darkest hours. Irish deputy prime minister Eamon Gilmore was among a number of politicians who attended the funeral, as did the high-profile lawyer Gareth Peirce, who represented both the Guildford Four and Birmingham Six.
In a statement issued through Ms Peirce, Mr Conlon's family said: "He brought life, love, intelligence, wit and strength to our family through its darkest hours.
"We thank him for his life and we thank all his many friends for their love.""We thank him for his life and we thank all his many friends for their love."
Ms Pierce, who became a close friend of Mr Conlon after his release, paid a personal tribute to him at the ceremony.
She told mourners: "When he shouted out 'I'm an innocent man, my father was innocent, the Maguires are innocent and the Birmingham Six', he set something in motion that forced the rest of us, the rest of the world, Britain, to hold a mirror up to ourselves and see precisely who we were and what we had done."
The Guildford Four were convicted amid the backdrop of an IRA bombing campaign targeting pubs in England.The Guildford Four were convicted amid the backdrop of an IRA bombing campaign targeting pubs in England.
Gerry Conlon, Paddy Armstrong, Paul Hill and Carole Richardson were jailed for life in 1975 for an attack on the Horse and Groom pub in Guildford which killed four soldiers and a civilian, as well as injuring scores more.Gerry Conlon, Paddy Armstrong, Paul Hill and Carole Richardson were jailed for life in 1975 for an attack on the Horse and Groom pub in Guildford which killed four soldiers and a civilian, as well as injuring scores more.
All those involved vigorously protested their innocence.All those involved vigorously protested their innocence.
The Court of Appeal quashed their sentences in October 1989, amid doubts raised about the police evidence against them.The Court of Appeal quashed their sentences in October 1989, amid doubts raised about the police evidence against them.
An investigation into the case by Avon and Somerset Police found serious flaws in the way Surrey Police handled the investigation.An investigation into the case by Avon and Somerset Police found serious flaws in the way Surrey Police handled the investigation.
It is considered to be one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in Britain.It is considered to be one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in Britain.
The perpetrators of the Guildford bomb attack have never been brought to justice.The perpetrators of the Guildford bomb attack have never been brought to justice.