The Guildford Four | Buried Alive | 2
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What is the opening scene that shows Gerry Conlon being taken from prison?
Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of British Scandal ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app. This episode contains strong language, descriptions of bomb scenes and police violence. Listener discretion is advised. Hey Matt, you know that thing that you told me the other day, that compromising thing? Will you just tell me again? I
don't want to go over this. It's embarrassing.
No, but it's ages ago. I think just say it in full again.
It's part of a past I'm not proud of and I still feel like it still might have repercussions for me.
Don't be ridiculous. What, all these years on?
Well, it's a crime, isn't it? So you'd never know if it's still an active case.
I think you would find it really cathartic to just say it in full, maybe starting with, my name is Matt Ford, and just get it off your chest.
Yeah, you know what? My name's Matt Ford in 1993. I stole... A VHS copy of Forrest Gump from HMV felt bad about it, took it back, actually put money inside it, so then I didn't even have the video.
All units, go, go, go!
All units! October 1989. Gartree High Security Prison, Leicestershire. Gerry Conlon lies on his thin mattress, stares into the darkness. He's been awake for hours, but he can't sleep. His stomach hurts and he feels a growing anxiety in the pit of his chest. It's too quiet. He swallows. Tries to convince himself he's just being paranoid. But something's off. He knows it.
What the
fuck? He lets out a terrified gasp as two prison officers burst in. They grab him, snap on handcuffs. His pulse races as they drag him out, shove him into a waiting van. His heart clenches at the sound of the deadbolt. Then a voice comes from the darkness. Geri. Jerry blinks as a face emerges slowly from the shadows. He's pale, thin, older than he remembers. The man's eyes are wide with terror. Jerry realises who's sat in front of him. It's Paul Hill. It's been 15 years since he and Paul were arrested. 15 long years since he last looked this man in the eye.
And that was not a happy moment because this is Paul Hill, the hippie, who had wrongly said to the police, albeit after torture, that Gerry was involved.
Yes. So Paul claimed that Gerry had been the boss, if you like. He'd given the orders and that Paul had carried out the bombing of the pub.
It would be an awkward first meeting. How you doing, mate? Been a while? What have you been up to since you lied about me and put me in prison? Not really thought about it, to be honest. No, no, I forgive you, don't worry. Had a good life. Sleeping well.
Jerry stares as Paul leans forward, sweating, trying to keep his voice steady. What the fuck is going on? Where are they taking us? Jerry swallows hard, hears his own strangled voice. I don't know. He looks out of the mesh window, tries to get his bearings. If they're being transferred to another prison, the van should be joining the motorway. but instead it slows, then turns down a dark country lane. Gerry tries to breathe slowly. The air is heavy. The vents have been taped over. A trickle of sweat runs down his back as he hears the guards in the driver's cabin start to laugh. One of them twists in his seat, grins through the wire. You boys enjoying your ride? Jerry tries to hold onto the seat as the van bumps along the dirt track.
The guard cackles. Well, it's your last one. Jerry closes his eyes. The van shudders to a halt and the doors are torn open. Jerry's already aching arms are almost wrenched out of their sockets as he's dragged into a room. He squints at the glaring strip light, glares at the expressionless man in army uniform sitting on the other side of the desk. Gerard Conlon and Paul Hill. Jerry braces himself. What more can they do to him? They've robbed him of everything, beaten him, tortured him. The officer sighs and snaps the folder shut.
It's your lucky day, boys.
Jerry feels his back tense, his fists tighten. Because it looks like you're being freed. I'm Alice Levine.
And I'm Matt Ford.
And this is British Scandal, an Audible original.
Hi, I'm Lindsey Graham, the host of American History Tellers.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the opening scene that shows Gerry Conlon being taken from prison?
0:00–6:42
2
How does Paul Hill confront Gerry after 15 years of separation?
6:42–13:35
3
What role does human‑rights lawyer Gareth Pearce play in the Guildford Four case?
13:35–20:14
4
What does Joe O’Connell’s confession reveal about the Guildford bombing?
20:14–26:30
5
How does forensic scientist Dr Higgs link the Guildford bomb to the IRA?
26:30–34:33
6
Why does Home Secretary Douglas Heard resist reopening the case?
34:33–42:04
7
How does Gareth Pearce push the appeal forward at the Home Office?
42:04–50:00
8
What is the final outcome and call to action for listeners?
50:00–59:18