née january july irish housewife prominent high profile justice cases british legal history spent decades campaigning names husband son cleared provisional irish republican army pub bombings helped secure apology british prime minister imprisonment pub bombings pub bombings occurred unit planted bombs surrey resulting explosions killed soldiers civilian injured investigation bombings led arrest conviction dubbed jailed life bombings served years jail convictions extensive inquiry carried somerset police original police investigation inquiry found way confessions noted seriously flawed concluding notes taken written immediately officers wording statements sarah husband convicted members family seven dubbed seven running bomb factory basis forensic evidence sentenced years jail served sentences exception died released seven appeal turned later appeal prompted release found test kits detect traces explosives contaminated convictions ruled original evidence unsafe february prime minister issued public apology seven justice suffered saying sorry subject ordeal injustice deserve completely publicly role sentences appeals won huge admiration ireland quiet dignity refusal feel bitterness years husband son jail sent weekly parcels cigarettes irish newspaper saved prison visits weeks annual holiday regular letters ended way pray ones told lies needs help father priest noticed sarah crying appeal turned helped begin campaign free husband son members seven took lobbying dignitaries church leaders media addition writing numerous irish politicians including labour_party members parliament ask support stage travelled london meet cardinal ask assistance campaigning led start aforementioned inquiry announced home secretary bomb cases led release news husband death reached sarah received message home secretary stating husband released grounds years husband death family decided fight public apology justice family led campaign lobbying church leaders politicians pledged support culminated apology family ill unable trip london hear apology children spoke telephone house_of_commons securing apology mentioned longer worry dying means leader member parliament described sarah true heroine age shining example saying patience saint huge reserves faith remarkable forgiveness story inspiration faith hope love personal life described woman immense catholic faith protective son held family hard work wanting life respectable holy quiet spent years working old clothes later worked long hours low pay serving food patients floors husband patrick evaded draft world war worked painting hulls ships lead paint damaged lungs condition worsened humidity house subsequently developed tuberculosis died lung cancer july aged popular culture hollywood movie father starring directed based family story northern irish actress played movie adapted autobiography later published father television film dear sarah based letters wrote wife prison film produced directed written featured
Sarah Conlon