Memorial service to be held to mark 50th anniversary of Guildford pub bombings

The service will remember the four soldiers and a civilian killed in the attack on October 5, 1974.

Four people were killed and more than 50 injured in an IRA bomb attack on the Horse and Groom pub in Guildford (PA) (PA Archive)

A memorial service is to be held this weekend to mark the 50th anniversary of the Guildford pub bombings.

The Holy Trinity Church in the Surrey city is hosting the service to remember the four soldiers and a civilian killed in the attack on October 5, 1974.

On Saturday, Irish President Michael D Higgins said that 50 years on from those terrible events, “we hold in our thoughts the five people who died, the bereaved families left behind and the many injured who continue to bear the scars of that savage act of violence”.

He added: “Fifty years on, as we reflect on the tragedy of that day, I wish to express my solidarity with those affected by this appalling atrocity.

“Let us take this moment of remembrance to reaffirm our commitment to peace and our support to the families of victims and survivors of the Troubles as we continue the important work of addressing the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland.”

The service, starting at 11.30am on Sunday, October 6, will have a number of invited guests, civic guests, representatives of the Women’s Royal Army Corps Association, the Scots Guards Association and members of the public.

Rector Canon Simon Butler said: “This is an important moment of commemoration and remembrance in the life of both the families of those who were killed and the wider Guildford community.

“We are honoured to be able to host this special service which will both look back at the terrible events of that night, to honour those who died and those who continue to suffer as a result, and to provide an opportunity for our town, and the wider community of those affected, to dedicate ourselves to work together for peace, justice and reconciliation.”

One of the first investigations carried out by a new body tasked with probing outstanding cases from the Northern Ireland Troubles will be into the 1974 Guildford pub bombings.

The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information (ICRIR), which has been newly set up to investigate cases from the Northern Ireland Troubles, will probe the atrocity at the Horse and Groom pub.

Another bomb detonated 30 minutes later at the Seven Stars.

The Guildford Four and Maguire Seven were wrongly convicted of the attacks in one of the UK’s biggest miscarriages of justice. An IRA terror cell later claimed responsibility.

The church service will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/c/HTSMGuildford