Miscarriages in the British legal system. “The Guildford Four” and “The Birmingham Six”

Essai , 2005 , 11 Pages , Note: 2,0

Philologie Anglaise - Culture et Études de pays

The following paper will deal with miscarriages in the british legal system with a closer look on the cases of “The Guildford Four” and “The Birmingham Six”. The Guildford Four, as well as the Birmingham Six were convicted for pub bombings they have not commited.

The Guildford Four, Paul Hill, Gerry Conlon, Carole Richardson and Paddy Armstrong, four young people from Northern Ireland, were convicted on October 22, 1975 for the Guilford and Woolwich bombings on October 5, 1974. The bombs went off in pubs in Guildford and Woolwich that were mainly visited by British soldiers. This was the reason, why they were chosen as targets by the IRA .

The Birmingham Six, Hugh Callaghan, Patrick Joseph Hill, Gerard Hunter, Richard McIlkenny, William Power and John Walker, six men from Northern Ireland, were charged with murder and bombing on May 12, 1975 and found guilty on August 15, 1975. The bombs went off in Birmingham on November 21, 1974 and were the most violent and injurious terrorist attacks in British history until that point.

Those terrorist attacks were part of a bombing campaign by the IRA. They stopped in December 1975 with the arrest of Joe O'Connell, Harry Duggan, Hugh Doherty and Eddie Butler, known as the Balcombe Street gang.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• Introduction
• Short overview on miscarriages in the British legal system during the 1970ies
• The political and social background in the late 1960ies and 1970ies
• The Guildford Four
  • The bombings
  • Arrest and Interrogation
  • Trial and appeal
  • Release
• The Birmingham Six
  • The bombings
  • Arrest and Interrogation
  • Trial and appeal
  • Release
• Conclusion
• Sources

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

This paper examines miscarriages of justice within the British legal system, focusing on the cases of "The Guildford Four" and "The Birmingham Six." These individuals were wrongly convicted for pub bombings they did not commit. The paper aims to analyze the circumstances surrounding these cases, including the political and social context of the time, the methods of interrogation used by the police, and the subsequent trials and appeals. It will explore the impact of these miscarriages of justice on the individuals involved and on the wider public perception of the British legal system.

• Miscarriages of justice in the British legal system
• The political and social context of the Troubles in Northern Ireland
• Police interrogation methods and their impact on confessions
• The role of the media in shaping public opinion
• The impact of miscarriages of justice on individuals and society

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

The introduction provides an overview of the paper's focus on miscarriages of justice in the British legal system, specifically examining the cases of "The Guildford Four" and "The Birmingham Six." It outlines the key events and individuals involved in these cases.

The second chapter offers a brief overview of miscarriages of justice in the British legal system during the 1970s, highlighting other notable cases such as the imprisonment of Judith Ward and the conviction of "The Maguire Seven." This chapter provides context for the specific cases of "The Guildford Four" and "The Birmingham Six."

The third chapter delves into the political and social background of the late 1960s and 1970s in Northern Ireland, known as "The Troubles." It explores the rise of Republican and Loyalist paramilitary organizations, the discrimination faced by Catholics, and the escalation of violence in the region. This chapter provides a deeper understanding of the context in which the Guildford and Birmingham bombings occurred.

The fourth chapter focuses on the case of "The Guildford Four," detailing the bombings themselves, the arrest and interrogation of the four individuals, their trial and appeal, and their eventual release. This chapter examines the alleged mistreatment and coercion during interrogation and the subsequent legal challenges faced by the wrongly convicted individuals.

The fifth chapter similarly focuses on the case of "The Birmingham Six," outlining the bombings, the arrest and interrogation of the six individuals, their trial and appeal, and their eventual release. This chapter also explores the alleged mistreatment and coercion during interrogation and the legal challenges faced by the wrongly convicted individuals.

Schlüsselwörter

The key words and focus themes of the text include miscarriages of justice, the British legal system, The Guildford Four, The Birmingham Six, The Troubles, Northern Ireland, police interrogation, confessions, wrongful convictions, and the impact of miscarriages of justice on individuals and society.

• Université: University of Constance
• Note: 2,0
• Auteur: Rebecca Bihler (Auteur)
• Année de publication: 2005
• Pages: 11
• N° de catalogue: V130785
• ISBN (ebook): 9783640395613
• ISBN (Livre): 9783656874003
• Langue: anglais
• mots-clé: Miscarriages, British, Guildford, Four”, Birmingham, Six”