No evidence on IRA Guildford pub bombings being destroyed by police, inquest told

No evidence relating to the 1974 IRA Guildford pub bombings is being “destroyed or withheld” by police, a pre-inquest hearing has been told.
The aftermath of the Guildford pub bombings in 1974The aftermath of the Guildford pub bombings in 1974
The aftermath of the Guildford pub bombings in 1974

The reassurances came after lawyers for the family of a victim of the atrocity raised concerns about Surrey Police leading on the disclosure of materials, before the inquests resume more than 40 years after they were suspended.

Counsel to the inquest Oliver Sanders QC told Surrey Coroner’s Court today that submissions had been made by lawyers KRW, acting for the family of Ann Hamilton.

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He said: “They say it is problematic for Surrey Police to be undertaking these roles on your behalf because Surrey Police is an interested person and their submission is that Surrey Police may be facing considerable scrutiny for its actions before, during and after the bomb.

“The premise of KRW’s submission is that Surrey Police may itself somehow have a conflict of interest.”

But he said the concerns were “misplaced” and there was “no matter for concern” given the narrowed scope of the inquest, adding: “Nothing is being destroyed, nothing is being withheld.”

Surrey coroner Richard Travers told a previous hearing the resumed inquests will investigate issues including: “The time of the blast, the respective locations of the bomb and its victims, who was with the victims at the time of the blast, whether each of the deceased died immediately and, if not, how long they survived for, whether they said anything to anybody prior to their deaths and the response of first aiders and emergency services.”

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Soldiers Caroline Slater, 18, William Forsyth, 18, John Hunter, 17, and Ann Hamilton, 19, and civilian Paul Craig, 22, died in the first of two blasts in the town on October 5 1974.

The fatal IRA bombing happened at the Horse and Groom pub, which was popular with soldiers.

The coroner said another pre-inquest hearing would take place on the week commencing May 18.