Life After Life: A Guildford Four Memoir Kindle Edition

This book really should come with a health warning. Covering the life of a wrongly convicted Belfast boy for the Guildford bombings in 1974, you will be taken on a helter-skelter ride through all your emotions from anger, horror, sadness, joy, elation and everything in between in what is a remarkable story.The book starts gently enough with charming insights into his early life in Belfast and a very candid exposure of his frailties and the sort of person Paddy Armstrong really is; far from perfect but clearly not a mass murderer. When you get to the part where the police arrest him for allegedly planning and executing the bombings then hold onto your hats as we read in detail about the manner in which he was treated by Guildford CID desperate to get a conviction, any conviction. A young Belfast boy was as good as anybody to pin the bombings on. This is where anger kicks in with the police threatening him with being thrown out the window unless he confesses. The chilling statement by Guildford police that they would tell the judge, “we just went out to make him a cup of coffee and when we get back he had jumped, me lud” is only the start of a crescendo of abuse and intimidation up to the point where he would sign anything.The book continues to explain in a clear and well structured manner the lead up to the original trail, his sentencing and his 15 years in a variety of Her Majesty’s finest institutions! His “relationship” with Carole, another of the Guildford Four, is very emotional and the graphic descriptions of his life in prison are very powerful. The book shows very clearly the huge mental stress on this innocent man with the use of light and dark print to illustrate his conflicting thoughts. Short sentences, sometimes using just one word, is a very good technique to add both drama and emotion. Even after his release, his life was full of twists and turns that continue to challenge your emotionsThe book could have explained a bit more about his own QCs arguments in court which is focussed on the prosecution’s barrister and what on earth happened to the cockney guy in prison he poured hot water over and sent him to the prison hospital with severe burns?In conclusion, this book has taken me through so many ups and downs that I just had to keep reading it. Leave yourself enough time to read the book when you start as it will drag you into an emotional vortex and not let you out to until the very end.Note to Paddy and Mary-Elain Tynan; great job, well done.

Its a privilege to read Paddy's story, the way he talks about his love for Carole, it's such a tragedy what happenend. It's not all misery though, its about love, life long friendships and human strength. But you can't help but feel anger for them, and anger and other miscarriages of justice, the tragedy of Giuseppe Conlon. I read this book in a day, I couldnt put it down its so sad that Carole and Gerry are gone, I hope that they knew peace after coming out of prison. I know Gerry struggled. The British justice system stinks, and the fact that those responsible for taking the life blood of these people didn't go to jail is an outrage. The book ended on a heartwarming note and I'm so glad Paddy has found peace and happiness and its been an honour to read his story.

After watching the film "In the Name of the Father" in year 11 at school and being gripped by the total miscarriage of justice the Guildford 4 suffered I immediately found Gerrys book online and read that cover to cover. 22 years later finding Paddys book I couldn't put it down. Amazing to read about his life and the events that changed his and those he loved lifes for ever.

One of the best books I have ever read. I went on every emotional roller coaster possible reading this book, I don't know Paddy Armstrong but its a credit to Mary Tynan who put Paddy words to page, that you get his whole personality coming across, and what a man and character he is. I don't cry often, but I shed tears at his ordeal by the so called best Justice system in the world, British Justice, but while I felt anger and sadness, this is a very uplifting and positive book, that should be placed in every library and school as it' education in itself, and in times I hope we never return too.its also important to point out this is in no way a bitter book or anti English, indeed as Paddy points out it was English people who did more to get him out than the Irish Government who done little to help.A great, important read that I can't get out of my head.

Brilliant book. I couldn’t put it down. It made me cry several times. Extraordinary story of bravery, fortitude, injustice and fight. It was a privilege and honour to be given an insight into this mans terrible injustices.

I have always been interested in miscarriages of justice cases and I remember well the powerful and passionate speech Gerry Conlon made on the release of the Guildford four. Paddy Armstrong was a little more low profile than Gerry Conlon and Paul Hill, but his story is just as powerful. A very moving and honest account of life before and after the pub bombings, I thank him for sharing what must have been at times, harrowing recollections of dark times in his life. If you are interested in the case and ever wondered what happened next you find this book fascinating.

Life After Life is an enthralling and heartbreaking account of the wrongful conviction of Paddy Armstrong,along with three other people for the notorious Guildford Pub Bombings,in 1974.These people,who spent many years of their lives in prison for a crime they didn't commit,became known as 'The Guildford Four'.These four people,who had absolutely nothing to do with the IRA,were horrifyingly convicted,despite the flimsiest of evidence,and were robbed of their lives,due to the sheer brutality of police officers desperate to find a scapegoat,with total disregard for the fact that there was no evidence at all that these four poor people had committed any crime whatsoever.A riveting and horrifying book.Excellent.

Unfortunately this is a true story, so emotional, how a person can survive such harrowing abuse yet be able to forgive.