Guildford Four and Maguire Seven - Aftermath

Aftermath

Neither the bombings nor the wrongful imprisonment resulted in convictions. The bombings were most likely the work of the Balcombe gang, who claimed responsibility. They were already serving life sentences, but were released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Three British police officers—Thomas Style, John Donaldson, and Vernon Attwell—were charged, but they were each found not guilty.

On 9 February 2005, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair issued an apology to the families of the 11 people imprisoned for the bombings in Guildford and Woolwich, and those related to them who were still alive, by saying, in part: "I am very sorry that they were subject to such an ordeal and injustice... they deserve to be completely and publicly exonerated."

Paul Hill married Courtney Kennedy, daughter of assassinated American senator Robert F. Kennedy, and niece of assassinated president John F. Kennedy, although they have subsequently separated. He has had a televised meeting with the brother of Brian Shaw, who continued to accuse him, and has travelled to Colombia to attend the trial of the Colombia Three.

Gerry Conlon's autobiography Proved Innocent was adapted into the Oscar and BAFTA Award-nominated 1993 drama In the Name of the Father, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Emma Thompson, and Pete Postlethwaite. The film depicts Conlon's attempt to rebuild his shattered relationship with his father, but is partly fictional: for example, Conlon never shared a cell with his father. He is reported to have settled with the government for a final payment of compensation in the region of £500,000. His mother Sarah Conlon, who had spent 16 years campaigning to have the names of her husband and son cleared and helped secure the apology, died on 20 July 2008. Conlon has given support to Tommy Sheridan in relation to the charges brought against him. He has been reported to have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and had involvement with drugs in the aftermath of his release.

Paddy Armstrong had difficulty with drinking and gambling. He later married and moved to Dublin.

Carole Richardson married and had a daughter soon after her release. She has kept out of the public eye since then.

The autobiography of the youngest member of the Maguire Seven, Patrick Maguire, My Father's Watch: The Story of a Child Prisoner in 70s Britain was released in May 2008. It tells his story before, during, and after his imprisonment, and its impact on his life and the lives of his family.