Ep.269 Patrick Maguire (Part 1 of 2) - Ministry of Arts Podcast

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Patrick Maguire

Patrick Maguire was the youngest member of the "Maguire Seven," a group wrongfully convicted in the 1970s for involvement in IRA bombings in Guildford and Woolwich. At just 13 years old, he was arrested alongside his family in December 1974. The Maguire Seven were accused of operating a bomb-making factory from their London home, based on dubious forensic evidence. Patrick was sentenced to four years in prison, during which he endured solitary confinement and significant psychological trauma.

The convictions of the Maguire Seven were eventually quashed in 1991, acknowledging the miscarriage of justice they had suffered.

In the years following his release, Patrick Maguire turned to art as a means of coping with his experiences. His work often reflects the darkness and confinement he endured during his imprisonment. In 2017, he held an exhibition titled "Out from the Darkness," marking a transition from his earlier, darker pieces to works embracing more colour and light.

Additionally, Patrick co-authored a memoir, "My Father's Watch: The Story of a Child Prisoner in 70s Britain," detailing his experiences and the impact of the wrongful convictions on his life and family.

Patrick Maguire's story stands as a poignant reminder of the profound personal consequences of miscarriages of justice.

Thank you to Anna Goodman for this connection.

For more information on the work of Patrick Maguire contact [email protected] or www.abstraktpublicity.co.uk

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