The Guildford pub bombings 1974: hearing to resume the inquest

Earlier this year the Senior Coroner for Surrey, Mr Richard Travers, directed that he would receive written submissions and hear oral argument on whether he has the jurisdiction, power, authority and reason to resume the inquest concerning the deaths of those killed in The Guildford Pub Bombings 1974.

That hearing took place on 20 December at the Coroner’s Court in Woking, Surrey.

In addition to those represented by Garden Court Chambers, there were representatives on behalf of family members of The Guildford Four (wrongfully convicted of the bombings) and the Surrey Police, the London Metropolitan Police and the MOD.

The hearing was open to the public and enabled the Senior Coroner to hear arguments and submissions regarding the resumption of the original inquest which was suspended due to the conviction of The Guildford Four.

Brenda Campbell QC, on behalf of the family of Ann Hamilton and Yvonne Tagg, instructed by KRW LAW LLP, made powerful submissions on the point that there was sufficient cause and reason to resume the inquest despite the passage of time and previous investigations, which, she argued, had never engaged the families of victims of the bombings. She read letters in support of resuming these inquests from other family members of two of the victims.

The Senior Coroner, Mr Richard Travers, noted the submissions of Ms Campbell QC, and reserved judgment on his decision until 31 January 2019.

Christopher Stanley of KRW LAW LLP said:

“The Senior Coroner, Mr Travers, listened intently to our oral submissions which supplemented our written submission to resume the original inquests. We believe there are compelling reasons for these inquest to be resumed and for the questions still being asked by the relatives of the victims of The Guildford Pub Bombings 1974 to be asked and investigated.”