Catalogue description Inquiry into the Circumstances Surrounding the Convictions Arising out of the Bomb Attacks in Guildford and Woolwich in 1974 (May Inquiry): Transcripts of Inquiry and Reports

The Right Honourable Sir John May was appointed by the Home Secretary on 26 October 1989 to conduct an inquiry following the quashing by the Court of Appeal of the convictions of four people (known as the 'Guildford Four') for pub bombings in Guildford and Woolwich in 1974 and also following the release from custody of six of the 'Maguire Seven' who had been convicted of possessing explosives (the seventh person of the 'Maguire Seven' had died in prison). The inquiry was independent of the Home Office.

The terms of references of the inquiry were:

'to inquire into the circumstances leading to and deriving from the trial of Patrick Armstrong, Gerard Conlon, Paul Hill and Carole Richardson on charges arising out of the explosions in public houses in Guildford on 5th October 1974; of Patrick Armstrong and Paul Hill in relation to charges arising out of an explosion in a public house in Woolwich on 7th November 1974; and of Anne and Patrick Maguire, their sons, Vincent and Patrick Maguire, and Patrick Conlon, Patrick O'Neill and Shaun Smyth on charges of possessing explosives and to report.'