U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair apologized to the Conlon and Maguire families for their wrongful imprisonment in 1974 for bombing Horse and Groom pubs in Guildford, U.K. Five people, four soldiers and a civilian were killed in the blast.

Mr Blair delivered his apology in a TV statement in his room at the House of Commons before a private meeting with the family members after Prime Minister’s Question Time. He said they deserve to be completely and publicly exonerated.

In September 1975 Gerry Conlon, Paul Hill, Paddy Armstrong and Carole Richardson were convicted to life imprisonment on 33 charges of murder and conspiracy. They became known as “the Guildford Four” and were sentenced to 15 years in jail before their convictions were overturned in 1989. The U.K. Court of Appeal quashed the sentences after the investigation that proved their confessions had been fabricated by police.

Giuseppe Conlon and members of Maguire’s family were also arrested and jailed for involvement in the bombing. Giuseppe Conlon died in prison while serving his sentence in January 1980.

In 1991 the convictions of the “Maguire Seven” were overturned. Their case gained international attention through the Oscar-nominated movie In The Name Of The Father. Daniel Day-Lewis starred Gerry Conlon and Pete Postlethwaite - Giuseppe.