Hiya.
In the name of whiskey
In the name of song
You didn't look back
You didn't belong
In the name of reason
In the name of hope
In the name of religion
In the name of dope
In the name of freedom
You drifted away
To see the sun shining
On someone else's day
In the name of United
And the BBC
In the name Georgie Best
And LSD
In the name of a father
And his wife, the spirit
You said you did not
They said you did it
In the name of justice
In the name of fun
In the name of the Father
In the name of the Son
Hello, hello. Good.
I never said thank you for takin' up our case.
I never thought I'd trust an English person again, especially a lawyer.
Anyhow, I'll be as brief and accurate as I can...
with names, dates and places; anything that might help in our defense.
To explain how I happened to be in England in 1974 at the time of the bombin',
I'd better take you back to Northern Ireland, where I come from.
Belfast in the early '70s was total chaos.
It was strange to see soldiers on the street...
terrified of the civilian population,
any one of whom could be an I.R.A. gunman.
I was just a petty thief stealin' scrap metal.
In Belfast, that was a dangerous occupation.
Get down, Gerry, for fuck sake.
Tommo!
The I.R.A. had already given me three warnings,
and when a British patrol mistook me for a gunman, that got me into real trouble.
- What do you think? Tryin' to fuckin' shoot us.
- There's a sniper! He's up there! - Where?
- I can't get a bead on him. - Shoot him before he fuckin' kills us!
Fuckin' bastards!
All right, hurry up and tell Mr. Kelly, love.
Two suspects proceeding back west...
Mr. Kelly!
Bastards!
- We're gonna move the guns. You go and move the gear.
Right. Everyone out, now! Come on!
Get out of the fuckin' way. The Brits is after us!
- The Brits are after us! Gerry! - In here, in here!
Come on, come on. This way, lads.
Go! Go!
Go on, Gerry!
Looks like they're coming out of everywhere.
- Riot, riot, riot. - They're right in front of us.
- Who is it? Grab him. - It's Conlon.
It's your brother! Your brother Gerry!
- Oh, my god! - # I said I didn't mean to take up all your sweet time #
Fuckin' English bastards!
They've started a riot to cover the sniper.
If we can isolate him, we can grab him. Let's go, lads.
Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go. Move it!
Get that child out of here now!
Move that child!
Shoot that fucking gas now!
Come and fucking get us now, you bastards!
Let him go, you bastards!
Fuckin' bitch!
Yo, Gerry, I've got a friend who wants to talk to you.
- Oh, fuck sake. - We can do this the easy way or the hard way, all right?
Let's be smart. Come on.
They're taking your brother away!
Where are you goin', love?
We weren't robbin' no houses. - Don't fuck with me.
- Suddenly you're a good boy? Have you been robbin' houses? - We weren't robbin' houses.
Search him. Did you get away all right?
- Aye. Those two. - Who was it? Those two?
- That isn't mine. It isn't. - Peter?
Shoot the bastards! They're always robbin' our houses!
Fuck you!
Daddy, Daddy, the I.R.A. has our Gerry.
Go on, show me.
Yo, give him that.
Right, Tommo, lad.
Tommo, get their trousers down. I fuckin' warned you, Danny.
Peter, we didn't do nothin', honestly.
- Give you a break? - What are we supposed to have done?
This is what I'm gonna give you. Now get your trousers down.
You just ran into a house where we had all our gear. We've almost lost that gear.
- I was just tryin' to get away from the Brits. - But you were stealin' again.
- You were stealin' lead. Shut up! - They were shootin' at us.
- Get the strides down now. - Why?
'Cause you'll get cloth in the wound and lose your leg, that's why.
Peter, give us a few slaps. You don't have to shoot us.
- For fuck sake. - Huh. Fuckin' Tarzan.
Look at the balls on him!
Jesus Christ! Peter! Peter!
They-They're only young. Give them a chance.
We were just tryin' to scare some sense into them.
He was stealin' lead again. He ran through one of our houses and started all this shit.
Did you start all this?
Yeah, he'll never survive in this town. Never.
This is the last time. You two blow! And Danny, it's the last time.
- The same for you, Conlon. - Pull up your trousers. Come back here.
- We've never had a thief in our family. - We've never had nothin'.
- Will you get a job? - We can't get jobs. You know we can't get jobs.
- I have a job. - You want me to work as a bookie's clerk?
- I want you to have some respect. - Aye, respect for who?
For yourself.
We're gettin' you out of here.
He'll do no growin' up in England, Guiseppe. No family life there.
Oh, give over, Ma.
I'm gonna miss the boat. What's that?
- Sausages for your Aunt Annie. - Jesus Christ, Ma!
- Here you are, son. - Here, let me do that.
All right, I'm ready. Where are you going?
- I'll walk with you. - Do you not trust me to get on the boat?
I'm sure I'll be back when I'm a millionaire, Gran.
Good luck. God bless.
- Cheerio, Gerry. - Behave yourself, Ann.
- Cheerio, Gerry. - Bye, Bridie.
He's gone now forever.
I'll be surprised if he lasts a month.
Did I ever tell you the time I jumped ship?
Jumped overboard about 200 yards out to sea;
swam back to this godforsaken place.
Why did you swim back?
There was a woman involved.
Why?
It was when I was healthy, before you were born.
What was her name?
Aye, you know her name. You know your own mother's name. Sarah.
Sarah Maguire she was.
Then she had the misfortune to change it to Conlon.
Boarding all passengers.
All second-class passengers boarding now.
Boarding all passengers. All second-class passengers...
boarding now.
Go and live. Go and live, son.
That's the best advice I can give you.
Remember... honest money goes further.
Honest money goes further.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Never look a gift horse in the mouth.
He had a cliché for every occasion.
I'll give you a call.
Right, son.
I ran up the gangplank to get away from him,
and then I suddenly felt bad about it.
I decided to turn back to call him Guiseppe for the first time in my life.
When I turned around, he had already walked away.
I just called after him.
Good-bye, Da!
Then I met my old schoolmate, Paul Hill.
Little did I know that after meetin' him my life would change forever.
You're under arrest.
Fuck sake, Gerry! Still a head case.
James Bond, license to kill.
- You're a nervous wreck. What's the matter with you? - I'm glad to get outta Belfast.
Where're you goin'?
- I'm goin' to London. What about you? - The same.
I need a drink.
Aye, I'm skint. I'll let you buy me one.
I arrived in London on the 26th of June.
My mother had given me the address of my Aunt Annie,
but I had an invitation to a hippie commune...
from my old friend, Paddy Armstrong.
- Jesus, Gerry, we've been walkin' around for hours. - It's only that big on the map.
Yeah, but it's a map, Gerry. London's a big place, you know.
What I was really looking for was free love... and dope.
I think it's this way.
Paddy?
- Yeah, what is it? - We're lookin' for Paddy.
- Paddy who? - Paddy from Belfast. Paddy Armstrong.
Paddy! There's some people here to see ya!
- Who is it? - Some Irish boys.
- Jesus! Gerry Conlon. - Hey, what about you, Paddy?
Fuck sake. Thought you was the drug squad. Come on in.
There you go.
Welcome to Xanadu.
Hi.
Jesus fuckin' wept.
Neat, ain't it?
Deptford Jim. Paul Hill.
- Right. - Gerry Conlon from home.
Before you can enter the circle, you have to have the rite of passage.
Open your mouth.
I enjoyed that.
They can't stay. There's not enough room.
Jim! Our rule: no property, no law... just love.
All right, let's vote on it. If you want Gerry and... What's your name?
- Paul. - No.
We're gonna call you... "Saddest Moon."
- Fuck off. - Saddest Moon, all right?
If you want Gerry and Saddest Moon to stay, raise your hands.
Four, five, six...
- Put your hand up, Paddy. - All right.
- Eight. - Looks like we're stayin' then.
All right.
What shall we call you?
You can call me "Wild One."
Wait, hold on.
Come on. Get off, all right? Come on, Saffron.
- Gerry, Gerry, Gerry, Gerry. - They have dead pig in here.
Just some sausages.
We're all vegetarians here.
I'm a vegetarian. We're both vegetarians.
I was just takin' them sausages to me Auntie Annie's.
I have to be around there now. I'll be back in a few minutes.
All right? Be back in a few minutes.
- Pinky. - And Perky.
Is she related to the Royal Family or somethin'?
Aye, she's fifth in line to the throne.
Ferguson's sausages, the only good thing that came out of that godforsaken place.
Would you like some more?
- No, I'm fine. Thanks. - We better make tracks.
You sure you won't stay?
You're very kind, but we need a bit of space. We're formin' a band and that.
Aye, a rock band.
Where are you stayin'?
- The address, you mean? - Uh-huh.
- Fillmore. - F-Fillmore.
Fillimore Road. Fillimore Road. Uh, it's number 60... something.
The number dropped off the door.
What do you mean, the number dropped off the door?
Well, will you let me have it when you find out what it is?
- Aye. - And would you phone your mother?
Aye. There's only one problem.
- Hmm? - It doesn't have a phone.
- Hello, Marian. Any problems? - No.
- Is it all there? - Yeah.
Okay. We're in business.
Watch the cracks. Watch the cracks.
- Their skirts are covering the cracks. - He's cheatin'.
- I'm a referee! - He's cheating.
Whack!
Yeah! Whoo!
- That wasn't too far away, was it? - Is that a bomb, Paddy?
It's gettin' more like home.
Hello? Hold on, hold on.
Guiseppe. Guiseppe. Long distance call.
- What? - Long distance call.
- Hello? - Go ahead.
- Hey, Da. Aye, it's Gerry speakin'. - Ask him for the money.
- Son. I'm fine. - Aye, how are ya doin'?
- It's been six weeks since you've been in touch. - Sorry about that.
It's just your ma's been worried, you know. You still going to Mass?
- Aye, every Sunday. Like clockwork. - Good.
- Are you workin'? Good. - Aye, I have a couple of things goin' here.
Ah, good. And are you safe?
- How do you mean? - From all the bombs.
Aye, you could just hear it in the distance like, uh...
Sorry about that.
- Are you stuck? Are you short of cash? - How do you mean, Da?
Uh, no. No, I'm flush at the moment.
No problem. No, I have plenty of money.
All right. And, Gerry, keep in touch.
Aye. All right. Bye-bye, Da.
All right, son. Bye. I'll tell your ma...
Bye.
Sorry about that.
We've enough for chips.
- Sorry, we'd only enough money for two chips. - Are you all right?
- What? - There's bombs everywhere. People have been hurt.
There they are. It's the Irish. Bringing all their troubles over here again.
Aye, it's all right when it happens over in Belfast. You fuckin' prick!
I've seen people killed in front of my fuckin' eyes!
- You stupid fuckin' prick! - He's not fuckin' worth it.
- Go home! Fuck you! - I'm gettin' out of here.
- Are you comin', Paddy? - Where are you gonna sleep?
Ah, no problem. We'll sleep in the park or somethin'.
- I'll see you soon, sweetheart. - Take care.
- Mind your fuckin' manners! - Prick.
Troops have entered the Ardoyne area of West Belfast...
following the collapse of the provisional I.R.A. cease-fire over the weekend.
Yeah, I'm watchin' it.
Civilians have been evacuated, and there are reports of casualties in many areas.
- Both sides are blaming each other for the collapse... - Okay, I'll take care of it.
- of the cease-fire which lasted just a couple of weeks. - That's it. 8:00 tonight.
No warning.
That's my place. Yous are sittin' there too long.
"C.B." Charlie Burke. That's me.
I carved my initials with this penknife.
No problem, Charlie. No problem. Whatever you say.
Closing the park. Park closing now.
- Easy with the feet there, Charlie. Fuck sake. - It's a big bench.
You're Irish too, aren't you?
Uh-huh.
I come over here when I was about your age.
Did you ever think of going home, Charlie?
Nah, I should. There's nothin' for me over there now.
We're closing the park.
Could you, could you lend us a few schillings?
- I was gonna ask you the same. - Oh, well.
- Gerry, we've no money left. - It's all I have.
- Well, now, like I wouldn't like to take all your money. - Catch you again, Charlie.
- Come on, come on. It's not even 8:00 yet. - All right, all right.
We must've just said good night to Charlie Burke when the bomb went off.
All we were concerned about was where we were gonna sleep that night.
We'd no money in our pockets.
We hadn't even the bus fare to Guildford, even if we'd known where it was.
No fuckin' way I'm goin' back to Belfast.
I tell you that.
- Hey, blondie. - Hey, sexy.
You dropped somethin'.
Fuck off, paddy. She's outta your league.
Let's see her.
It's her fuckin' keys. I'm goin' in.
We should give 'em back, Gerry. Put 'em through the letter box.
Put the keys back in the letter box, Gerry.
Jesus Christ.
Come on, Paul.
Jesus Christ, how much money is there?
I got £700 from the hooker's apartment.
I did feel a little bit guilty about that.
We spent that night in a hotel.
The next day we went and bought the same clothes.
The same trousers, same jackets. Even the same shoes.
Baaa.
Has that coat got fleas?
Who are those two gorgeous women in the kitchen?
- Gerard? - Did you miss me, Bridie?
Look at Gerry. He's, he's a hippie.
- Daddy, look at the money. - Do you want it?
Yes, Gerry, I wanna be in your gang. I wanna be in your gang.
Take it easy. Hey, calm it down.
It's my money! It's mine!
- Calm down. Stop it. - It's my money. He gave it to me!
Stop that!
And they were always talkin' about the troubles, were they?
Yeah. Especially Paul Hill.
He was always talkin' about Belfast, the I.R.A., all that stuff.
Look, all I'm sayin' is this:
They had a lot of money, and Conlon went back to Belfast.
- Come along, into the car. - What's goin' on?
- That was a bloody disgrace, them shootin' you. - Aye.
- Did it hurt you, Danny? - Ah, it wasn't too bad.
The bullet bounced off the knee and come out the other side.
Five people are dead and 75 seriously injured...
as a result of the I.R.A.'s bomb attack on a Guildford pub.
Parliament has passed the Prevention of Terrorism Act,
which allows terrorist suspects to be held in police custody for up to seven days.
Seven days. Geez.
It's the same here. Seven days. No difference.
...inside London and arrested 19 suspects.
Gerry, there's your shoes.
I later spoke to Commander Robert Dixon...
- X's up. - of the anti-terrorist squad about those arrests.
Some of them may not deserve it. We shall use these powers...
as selectively as possible.
- Get up out of bed, you dirty, murdering bastard! - Hands above your head!
I don't know what the fuck yous are lookin' for, mister, but I'm not it.
Gerry, your coat. He's done nothin'.
- Inside, sir. - He's not political. I have a right to speak to my son.
- Da! Da! - Keep calm, Gerry.
Get back in. Get back inside.
It's all right. It's all right. Come on now.
- Where are we goin'? - You'll find out soon enough.
- Where'd he get this money? - I don't know.
They have no right to take him to England.
I don't have a fuckin' clue what this is about, so I don't.
I've done nothin' wrong.
When can I go back to Belfast?
The next time you see Belfast they'll be flyin' day trips to the moon.
I always wanted to be an astronaut.
What are you chargin' me with?
- You're being held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. - What?
We can hold you for seven days and seven nights without charging you.
Since when was I a fuckin' terrorist?
Remember that, Gerry? Hmm? Remember that?
And that. You proud of that?
- And that. - What are you showin' me these for?
- No marks! Don't mark him! Don't mark him!
- Are you proud of that? - Huh?
Look at that young, pretty girl there!
- Now look at her! - You're out of your fuckin' minds!
- Are you? - You're out of your fuckin' minds!
The children know there's somethin' terrible goin' on, and you're not makin' it easier.
I haven't the strength for this.
If he killed innocent people, I haven't the strength for it.
I know that child. I carried that child.
If you're not gonna believe in him, I will.
- You think he's innocent? - When your son walked through that door lookin' like a clown,
do you think he had murder in his eyes?
- It's a surprise. - Shut up. Shut up!
When will Daddy be back?
He'll be back in a couple of days.
Why did they put Gerry in jail?
It's a mistake.
I'm on my way over to bring him back home.
Why are you getting narky again?
Eh? Are we touching a sore spot?
Name all the places you stayed while you were in England.
- I told you about 100 times. - Then tell us again!
I stayed at the squat most of the time.
I was a couple of nights at my Auntie Annie's,
and one night at the hotel after I robbed the money.
Male. Late forties.
Who taught you how to make the bomb, Gerry?
I never made any bombs.
Did Annie make the bomb, Gerry?
Is Annie Marian, Gerry?
- Is Annie Marian? - Annie who?
- Annie Maguire. - My Aunt Annie?
Oh, aye, Annie made the bomb, and Mother Teresa planted it.
What was Carole Richardson's part in this operation?
Are you Marian?
- What? - Are you Marian?
She had nothin' to do with it.
This man comes into my house. He puts a gun to my head.
He says I done Guildford.
I left Belfast to get away from people like him.
Show me what you want me to sign. I have an alibi for that night.
What are you showing me these for?
Gerry told us you did it.
Then he's a fucking liar.
Armstrong drove the car. Who was the woman in the back?
I don't know.
But you were in the Ford Cortina.
But you were in the red Ford Cortina.
He'll get used to your methods, and then he'll clam up.
I told you I was... I told you I was in the Cortina. I told you it was a taxi.
No. The taxi was a Toyota Corolla.
When can I ring home?
- Let's start again. Who's Marian? - Was it someone Irish?
- Gerry, who is she? - Why are you gettin' narky? Are we touchin' a sore spot?
- Nothin' to do with what, Gerry? - Talk to me.
You're evading the truth, Gerry. What was her name?
Two little girls asked me, "Why was Daddy blown up?"
Who taught you how to make the bomb, Gerry?
Gerry, talk to me.
No.
He'll do what he's told.
Look at him. He's a lyin' bastard.
He's a fuckin' comedian, aren't you, Gerry?
Who's Marian? I'm gettin' fucking bored with this. Who is Marian?
- I don't know any Marian. - I'm gonna keep on askin' until you give me a fuckin' answer!
- Who is Marian? - I don't know.
Yes, you fuckin' do! Bollocks! Who is Marian?
We know who Marian is.
Hey.
Are you the man in charge?
- Yes, I am. - For fuck sake, tell 'em to stop hurtin' me.
I swear to God I...
I know where I was at the time of the bombings.
I was with a man, a man called Charlie Burke.
Have you any other alibis?
I have told you before,
I was with Paul Hill most of the day.
All right, come with us.
- Tell Gerry Conlon like you said you would.
- Who's this? - Gerry Conlon.
Have you anything to say to him?
I've cleared my conscience.
I advise you to do the same.
There's his statement.
But... I didn't do this.
I didn't fuckin' do this!
I didn't... do this.
Please believe me.
What are you doing to me?
They wouldn't hold him if he hadn't done somethin'.
- Gerry is no angel. - I know that.
He needs a strong hand.
You're all under arrest.
No, no, don't. Don't hurt the child.
You're all being held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
- Is Hill leading us up the garden path? - I don't know.
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know.
I can make him confess.
Why don't you have a word in his ear?
You're from the same town. He'll understand you.
Will you have the bomber?
Our job is to stop the bombing.
I'm gonna shoot your da.
What did you say to me?
Little Bridie'll have no daddy.
I'm gonna shoot Guiseppe.
- Hey, hey. - He's threatenin' to shoot my da!
He's threatenin' to kill my da!
Look at him! Look at him!
He's a madman!
I think you're hallucinating. Nobody's gonna harm your father.
Get him back. Get him back.
He threatened to kill my da.
Nobody's gonna kill your father.
- You mad bastard! - Take it easy, son. Take it easy.
He's not gonna harm your father.
Come on, let it all out.
Let it all out, all that hatred.
You hate us, don't you? Hmm?
You hate us enough to bomb and maim.
That is the trouble. You let it all out.
- Come on, boy. Let it all out. - I don't hate you.
Yes, you do. I can see it in your face. I can see all that hatred.
So why don't you just let it off your chest...
before it starts to mess up with your mind, hmm?
Give me the fuckin' statement.
For fuck sake, give me the statement.
Give me a fuckin' pen.
Right, that's my fuckin' name there. You can write what you like.
All right, nice and easy. Come on.
- Paul! Paul! What's goin' on? - Gerry!
They stuck a fuckin' gun in my mouth!
So I told 'em a lot of bullshit!
- What did you give 'em my fuckin' name for? - I'm sorry!
It's fuckin' mad! It'll be laughed out of fuckin' court!
It'll be laughed out of fuckin' court!
The four of us were split up.
I was taken to South London Remand Center.
You can check the dates, Gareth.
Kill that fucker!
You fucking son of an Irish punk!
- That Irish bastard! - Kick him in the ass!
Kick that Irish in his fuckin' ass!
- What is that? - Delousing.
- I don't have fuckin' lice. I don't want that. - You have no choice, mate.
You'll never clean the scum off that garbage.
Okay, Conlon. Go see the room, shall we?
Get his butt kicked in!
Come on, lads, let's move it.
Come on, Mr. Conlon, let's go.
- I don't need delousing. - No choice. Turn around.
We got your son. Now, let's go, shall we?
- I'll lead you right to him. - Okay.
- Da! No! Da! - Is that you, son?
- Da, here! - Where are you?
What have they done to you?
- Don't you hurt him! Don't hurt my father! - Son!
- Are you all right, son? - Don't kill him! Da!
Come on, move along. Move along. Come on, you.
- Fuck you, I'm goin' out. - Shut up, you!
- Shut up! - On the floor!
Kill him! Kill him!
Oh, what the fuck are you doin' here, Da?
I come over to your Aunt Annie's to get you a lawyer... and they arrested everybody.
What?
- What for, fuck sake? - Conspiracy to murder.
Oh, no. Oh, fuck sake, no. Please.
Did you do it?
Did you do it, son?
No, I did not!
Of course I fuckin' didn't do it, fuck sake!
What are you looking at me like that?
Like what?
Why are you lookin' at me like that?
- Like what? - Why do always follow me? Huh?
Why do you always follow me when I do something wrong?
- Why can't you follow me when I do something right? - What are you talkin' about?
- What am I talkin' about? I'm talkin' about the medal. - What medal?
What fuckin' medal? What fuckin' medal!
The only fuckin' medal that was ever in our house. That fuckin' medal.
The medal I won at football.
And you sat on the sidelines shoutin' instructions like you could only see what I was doin'.
You couldn't even fuckin' play football. And you could only see what I was doin' wrong.
I could never do anything good enough for you. After the game, you came up to me and said,
"Gerry, did you foul the ball?"
And I walked away from you, remember? I walked away into the dressing room.
You followed me in there and said again, "Gerry, did you foul the ball?"
All the fathers were in there and they were laughin' at you, callin' you "Poor Guiseppe."
And I ran out, and I hid, and I wrote your name on the ground.
Your stupid Guiseppe fuckin' name. I wrote it in the dirt and I fuckin' pissed on it!
I pissed on it!
Because I did foul the ball. What did it matter? We won.
For once in our lives, we won. You ruined that medal for me!
I took it to the pawn. They wouldn't even give me fifty pence for it.
- It's the shock. - That's when I started to rob to prove that I was no good.
- Delayed shock. - Never mind delayed shock.
I've been like this since I was seven.
I remember Mammy said to me, "Don't upset Guiseppe; he's not well."
Oh, dear Lord. "He's not well, so tiptoe around the house." Like this, huh?
"Better tiptoe around the house like that. You know, he's not well."
I got holy communion, I thought I was eatin' you alive. Was it my fault you were never well?
Why did you have to be sick, Guiseppe, huh? What'd you have to be sick all your life for?
When that mad bastard out there threatened to shoot you, I was happy. I swear to God.
Honest to God, I was happy. I was delighted! You know why? Because finally it was all over.
It was over! You see?
And then I knew I was bad. I knew I was bad then, you see, so I started to cry.
I started to tell lies. Same fuckin' lies I've been tellin' all my gobshite fuckin' life.
Huh?
You know what that means? It means words don't mean anything.
- Stop this. - Huh? Only this time, I got everyone into trouble.
But it doesn't matter. 'Cause I'm no good anyhow. It doesn't matter.
Keep away from me. You've been followin' me all your life, and now here you are in jail.
- You doing this deliberately? You doing this deliberately? - No. Stop it!
- Stop it! - You call that a fuckin' dig, huh?
Do you call that a fuckin' dig? Hit me harder. Hit me fuckin' harder!
- Stop it. Calm down. - For once in your fuckin' life, hit me like a real father!
Stop it.
Just relax. Just relax!
Just relax! Yeah?
Come on, relax.
That's right.
Just relax. It's okay.
- Da. - It's not your fault, son, all right?
Everything's gonna be all right, son.
It's okay. It's all right.
Visitor for Conlon!
Two on for visit!
- No touching. - Everybody else was allowed to touch.
I.R.A., closed visits. No contact.
Why are you doing this to us?
- You have your father locked in prison for murder. - Speak up, please.
- It's not my fault, Ma. - Take it easy, Sarah.
I swear to God, I've done nothin' wrong.
Why did you sign a confession, son?
He did it to protect me, love.
You have a good son there, that's all you need to know.
You didn't sign anything yourself, did you, Guiseppe?
The only thing I said was I wanted to see you.
Look, they've no statement, nor evidence against me.
I'll be out and home soon. Sure, I'm only visitin' here myself.
I'll be able to help out Gerry while I'm in here.
Danny's dead, Gerry.
What?
They found his body on waste ground.
The I.R.A. said he was an incurable thief.
I sent a Mass card from the family.
- Daddy. - This one'll not go to school since you've been away.
- Hey, you go to school for your mammy. - Yes, Daddy.
Daddy, when will you be home?
I've pressed your Sunday suits for the trial.
Make sure and look your best now, son.
But is there nitro or was there not nitro?
Yes, there are... traces of nitro.
But are they all positive?
Well, yes, on six of them.
- Who'd we miss? - The aunt, Aggie... Annie.
But her rubber glove showed a faint trace.
And the children? The children?
Positive.
Oh, for...
The results may not be good enough for court.
Your word will be good enough for the court.
Yes, sir.
Kill the bastards! Kill 'em!
- Kill 'em! - Kill those bastards!
Shoot the bastards!
Call number one.
- Let's go. - Jesus, it's a nightmare, Guiseppe.
Just stay calm, be on your best behavior and this'll be behind us soon.
That's it, come on.
We'll be fine.
Yes, we'll be all right.
All... rise.
Sir Michael Hagerty will present the case on behalf of the Crown.
There are... two series of charges here, ladies and gentlemen.
The four defendants in front...
are charged with 11 counts in relation to the explosion of the Guildford pub...
and the murders of five people.
The Crown will show that these were the bombers.
The seven defendants behind are charged with the possession of explosives.
They are not charged with murder. The Crown's case against them is that...
- they are a support network for the bombers, and as such...
- should be considered totally independent. - Control yourself.
My first witness is Inspector Robert Dixon.
I swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Inspector, why do you believe these four are the bombers?
First Hill, then Conlon, Armstrong, Richardson...
confessed to the bombing; they are the I.R.A.'s A.S.U.
Eh, can you explain A.S.U.s for us?
"Active Service Unit." The elite of the I.R.A.
Those who carry out the bombings and the shootings.
Very often they are combat veterans with previous experience with shooting...
at soldiers... and planting explosives.
And the others: Annie Maguire and her family.
They are the I.R.A.'s support network. They store their families, friends.
They store the weapons and explosives and they provide what we call, "safe houses."
Thank you, Inspector.
Inspector, these people were arrested two days...
after the Prevention of Terrorism Act was introduced.
That's correct.
Can you explain, please, the powers that this gives to the police?
It permits us to hold suspected terrorists for a period of up to seven days.
Quite extraordinary powers in a democracy.
Difficult I would've thought for the police to resist the temptation...
- to deal forcibly with people. - Objection.
People they suspect are the biggest bombing campaign on the British mainland...
- since the Second World War. - Objection. My lord, I really must...
- Get to the point! - Now, this bombing campaign...
struck deep into the British people's sense of security.
- The people looked to you to find those responsible. - Yes.
You must have been under the most intense pressure.
That's my job.
Now, all of the defendants claim,
including young Patrick Maguire, aged just 14.
Patrick, would you stand up, please?
Thank you. All of the defendants claim...
that they were subjected to physical and mental abuse while under police custody.
They were never harmed in any way.
- He's fuckin' lyin'! They beat the shit out of us! - Fuckin' liar!
Silence. Sit them down!
Please believe us! They beat us!
Just be quiet.
Sit them down!
Silence in the court!
Mr. Conlon says...
that you pulled him by the hair and squeezed his testicles.
I never even spoke to Mr. Conlon.
- I hope you burn in hell, Dixon. - Silence!
Mr. Hill says the police sat astride him and put a gun in his mouth.
There was no pressure of any kind.
- You can go and fuck yourself, you lyin' fuckin' bastard! - Silence! Order!
Inspector, in the case of the four main defendants, you have no corroborating evidence.
I have the confessions of four obvious terrorists. What more do you want?
Well, n-nitroglycerin is a highly toxic substance.
It's when the substance to be tested...
After a few weeks, we were bored out of our minds.
Just messed around and that there.
They must've been desperate for evidence.
They produced my Auntie Annie's washing-up gloves like a rabbit out of a hat.
And then it was my turn to take the stand.
Mr. Conlon. Did you bomb Guildford?
No, I didn't.
The police claim that you were in Guildford on the night of the bombing.
Can you tell us where you were?
- I was in a park in London. - Who with?
With Paul Hill sittin' there.
You met somebody else that night, about 8 PM.
- Aye, I met a man called Charlie Burke. - And who is he?
Aye, he was just like a, you know, like a, a fellow homeless guy we met in the park.
Why do you remember this man so clearly?
I remember thinkin' that if I didn't get out of London fast, I was going to end up like 'im.
You told this to the police? - Aye.
- What did they say? - Aye, they said he didn't exist.
Mr. Conlon, why did you confess to the Guildford bombing?
They beat me.
And then they threatened to kill my father.
- Will you repeat that please? - They terrorized me for seven days.
After that, they threatened to kill my father; I'd have fuckin' signed anything after that.
- Excuse my language. - Thank you.
You expect this jury to believe that decorated police officers...
would risk their career and their reputation by threatening your father?
I don't expect 'em to believe that by the time you finish with 'em, but it happens to be truth.
You're an honest man, aren't you, Mr. Conlon?
I like to think so.
You've told us you remember this Charlie Burke very well.
Aye.
Do you remember telling the police anything else about that night?
Let me refresh your memory. You told Inspector Dixon...
that you had committed a robbery on that night.
Now do you remember?
Aye.
- Who did you rob? - Robbed a hooker.
- You robbed a prostitute? - Aye.
And we are expected to believe a man who claims he stole from a prostitute...
before we would believe ten police officers who stood here,
on oath, and called you a liar?
That's the truth. You know, I'm...
I'm bound to say I don't find you very convincing.
Thank you, Mr. Conlon.
Why didn't you tell me that you'd stole from that woman?
You could've called me. I would've sent the money.
Are you gonna be a thief and a liar all your life?
Standing up in that witness box. Making faces to your mates.
Well, at least you told the truth in there. That'll stand you.
Are you not goin' to eat that sausage?
No.
They put a gun in my mouth...
and made me confess to a murder I didn't commit.
So I said I did the big bombin', and named anybody I knew who was not in the I.R.A.
Not in the I.R.A.?
- Definitely not in the I.R.A. - Why?
You know why.
I just wanted to show how ridiculous it all was.
Inspector, the defendant Conlon presented an alibi.
One Charlie Burke.
Yes, that name did appear in Mr. Conlon's statement. We investigated it.
We couldn't find any trace of such a person.
And there was this question of the robbery of a prostitute.
No robberies were reported in that area that night.
At the start of this trial I shook Gerry Conlon's hand.
Subsequently, I was deeply shocked when a member of the legal profession came to me...
and asked me if I was now going to wash my hand.
In my long legal career, I cannot remember a case where emotions have been so charged.
It falls to me now to appeal to you,
the members of the jury, not to get caught up in this...
tide of mass hysteria.
Inspector Dixon admits there are scores of inconsistencies in the confessions.
My clients contend that they were forced to confess...
through brutality and intimidation.
Now, they may be foolish...
petty thieves, even drug abusers,
but they are not the ruthless bombers who have terrorized Britain for months.
You should find these young people... not guilty.
- Bollocks! - Okay, let's go.
- Get your fuckin' hands off me! - Move it!
- Hands off!
Hands off!
Ladies and gentlemen.
Like my learned colleague in the defense,
I would caution you not to be swayed by your emotions.
The four people you see in the front...
are one of the most cunning and cruel criminal conspiracies...
ever to set foot on English soil.
Now here are the facts of this case:
Inspector Dixon,
a decorated officer of great expertise, acting on reliable information...
and good detective work, arrested Paul Hill,
who, guilt-ridden by the shame of his crime, confessed.
That confession led the police to the ringleader, Conlon...
and his terrorist family.
His aunt, Annie Maguire, the experienced bomb maker...
who wore rubber gloves when handling explosives...
in the kitchen of her home in Harlesden.
She even allowed her children to handle explosives.
Vincent, aged 16. Patrick, 14,
who did not... could not know any better.
Guiseppe Conlon, her brother-in-law, the courier who arrived with more explosives.
Armstrong and his dupe Richardson, who carried the bomb.
Now, these are the people who, in a panic, had to dispose of the nitroglycerin.
And that is what sealed their fate.
How do we know this? Because the truth was on their hands.
It is a story written in the blood of their victims.
You have seen some of those who survived their callous disregard for human life.
It is now your duty to protect society from them.
I am confident that that is what you will do.