Guildford bombing victim's family 'devastated' as investigation dropped
It's despite Surrey Police uncovering a new line of forensic enquiry as they investigate the killing of Ann Hamilton in 1974
Last updated 5th Apr 2024
The family of a soldier killed in the Guildford pub bombing say they are devastated by a decision not to re-investigate her death.
Private Ann Hamilton, 19, was one of five people killed when a bomb exploded at the Horse and Groom pub on 5 October 1974.
Fellow soldiers Caroline Slater, 18, William Forsyth, 18, and John Hunter, 17, and Paul Craig, 21, also died, whilst 65 others were injured.
The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) claimed responsibility for the blast, which was equivalent to 18 sticks of dynamite.
Surrey Police say despite identifying a new line of forensic enquiry into Pte Hamilton's death, they will not re-investigate as they will not be able to secure a prosecution before 1 May.
That's when the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act comes into effect, ending all incomplete investigations into incidents related to the Troubles.
'No words can describe re-traumatisation' family have suffered
The law firm representing the family, KRW Law, said they are now seeking to clarify what the new evidence is, how long Surrey Police knew about it, and whether the force will continue any investigations after 1 May.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, Associate Solicitor Barry O'Donnell from KRW Law, who represents the family, says they are "devastated" by Surrey Police's decision.
"No words can explain the re-traumatisation that they suffered when this letter came in the post to them," Mr O'Donnell said.
He added the family have "serious concerns" about how long Surrey Police knew about this potential lead, and whether they knew about it during their initial investigation.
"Has it been worked out over the years, or is it a new lead that they have come up with?"
Mr O'Donnell also expressed concern the new Legacy Act, ending all investigations into unresolved cases relating to the Troubles on 1 May, could "close down" future prosecutions and trials.
"The big concern is could there have been time to have followed this up and if there was time, why was the time delayed? Why was time wasted?"
'No prospect of prosecution' before May deadline
Surrey Police Deputy Chief Constable Nev Kemp said:
"We remain committed to facilitating justice for the families of those who were killed in the 1974 Guildford bombings.
"Since 2019, when it was announced inquests would be resumed, we have supported a lengthy disclosure process and conducted a thorough and detailed assessment of all the materials held.
"During this assessment, a potential forensic line of inquiry was identified and in November 2022, following consultation with Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP), it was agreed this line of inquiry should be progressed. This work has been complex and has taken some time to complete.
"Throughout this period, we were aware of draft legislation which has now been enacted, which we knew would impact on our ability to launch a re-investigation should we have reached that stage.
"However, it was right and proper, in the interests of justice, for us to continue with our assessment, and to submit items for forensic analysis.
"The timing of the return of the forensic results in August 2023 is unfortunate.
"The enactment of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 in September 2023 means that there is now no prospect of reaching the stage of prosecution by the deadline of May 1 2024 that is set by the Act.
"Whilst the Act does not allow for a police force to refer a case to the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR), the Chief Constable will notify the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland of the findings of our assessment once we have received further guidance on the process.
"We are still in the process of informing the relatives of Private Caroline Slater, Private Ann Hamilton, Guardsman William Forsyth, Guardsman John Hunter, and Mr Paul Craig killed in the IRA time bomb attack to update them on the assessment and advise them that the ICRIR can take requests from a family member.
"Our priority now is to preserve the significant amount of work that has been done to date, and to ensure we do not jeopardise any course of action that could be available to the families through the ICRIR."