Vol. 432 No. 2
20 Mr. Barry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if this country's concern for the position of the Guildford Four has been brought home to the British Government following the trial verdicts on the policemen concerned with the investigations of the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The British Government are fully aware of the concern felt in this country arising from the recent trial of the three Surrey policemen charged in connection with the Guildford case. While the conduct of the trial is a matter for the Courts, I very much understand the concern widely felt at the emphasis reportedly given to the actions of the Guildford Four, notwithstanding the earlier decision of the Court of Appeal in this matter.
It must, of course, be emphasised that the verdict in this trial in no way alters or detracts from the October 1989 decision of the Court of Appeal which allowed the appeals and quashed the convictions of the Guildford Four. I would hope that the May Inquiry, which was set up to look into the Guildford and Maguire miscarriages of justice, and the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice, which was established in 1991 in the aftermath of the Birmingham Six case to consider reforms in the criminal justice system, will, inter alia, consider how best to ensure that the rights of those who have already suffered from miscarriages of justice can be adequately protected.
