In the Name of the Father

British security forces mistake Gerry Conlon for an IRA sniper, triggering a chase and a riot. The confrontation marks the first major misstep that subjects him and his family to suspicion and harassment. This misidentification sets off the series of events that define his wrongful imprisonment.

To prevent an IRA reprisal against the family, Giuseppe Conlon arranges for Gerry to be sent to London. The journey marks a transition from a local troublemaker to a person caught in a distant and dangerous legal system. The family hopes the move will spare them from further violence.

Gerry burgles a prostitute's flat and takes £700. This act highlights his risky choices and begins a pattern that feeds the authorities' case against him. The theft becomes part of the narrative that will lead to his arrest and detention.

Gerry spends an evening taking drugs in a park with Paul Hill and homeless Irishman Charlie Burke. The scene shows a moment of reckless behavior amid a tense environment. It foreshadows the chaotic circumstances that later entangle him with the Guildford Four case.

An explosion in Guildford kills four off-duty soldiers and a civilian and injures many others. The attack becomes the central event Gerry is linked to, shaping the initial police response. The bombing's investigation drives the arrest and subsequent trials.

Returning to Belfast sometime later, Gerry is captured by the British Army and Royal Ulster Constabulary and arrested on terrorism charges. The arrest marks the shift from suspect to detainee under harsh conditions. This step begins the long, unjust legal ordeal.

Gerry is flown to England, where he and Paul Hill and two others are dubbed the Guildford Four. They are subjected to police interrogation that includes torture as part of the case against them. The brutal treatment shapes his memory and frames later claims of innocence.

Fearing for his father's life, Gerry signs a confession despite his insistence of innocence. The coercive pressure from authorities compounds the injustice of their detention. The confession becomes a central piece of the prosecution's case that will be heavily scrutinized later.

At trial, Gerry's defense points out many inconsistencies in the investigation, but he and the other Guildford Four are sentenced to life imprisonment. The courtroom scene is marked by public pressure and a sense of a rushed verdict. The outcome seals a devastating miscarriage of justice at the heart of the film.

In prison, new inmate Joe McAndrew reveals that he was the real bomber and had confessed to the police. The information is reportedly withheld by authorities to save face, complicating the path to exoneration. Gerry clings to the possibility of truth surfacing despite the obstacles.

Joe sets a hated prison guard on fire during a riot, testing the fragile trust between inmates. Gerry's opinion of Joe grows more complicated as the violence in prison intensifies. This episode deepens Gerry's personal struggle within the system.

Giuseppe dies in custody from tuberculosis, leaving Gerry to carry on his father's fight for justice from within prison. The loss strengthens Gerry's resolve to seek exoneration for himself and the others. The family’s legacy becomes a driving force behind future appeals.

Gareth Peirce, Giuseppe's lawyer, discovers vital evidence related to Gerry's alibi and a note that reads 'Not to be shown to the defence'. This note points to deliberate suppression of exculpatory information. A court appeal later uses Charlie Burke's testimony to totally exonerate Gerry.

The appeal exonerates Gerry and the others, confirming their innocence. The film notes that the investigating police were never prosecuted, and that Giuseppe is buried in Milltown Cemetery in Belfast, while the true perpetrators remain uncharged. The ending emphasizes the unresolved justice surrounding the Guildford bombing.