either served their prison sentences in full or, in the case of Giuseppe Conlon, died. Scientists had falsely asserted that the hands of each defendant had tested positive for nitroglycerine. After emerging from the Court of Appeal as a free man, Conlon said: "I have been in prison for something I did not do. I am totally innocent. The Maguire Seven are innocent. Let's hope the Birmingham Six are freed." Conlon was represented by human rights lawyer Gareth Peirce, who also secured the release of the Birmingham Six. Conlon described his experience of injustice in his book Proved Innocent (1990). He was portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis in the film In the Name of the Father (1993). After his release from prison, Conlon had problems adjusting to civilian life, suffering two nervous breakdowns, attempting suicide, and becoming addicted to alcohol and other drugs. He eventually recovered and became a campaigner against various miscarriages of justice in the United Kingdom and around the world. Gerry Conlon also made a cameo appearance in the film Face (1997) alongside Robert Carlyle. Death Conlon died of lung cancer on 21 June 2014 in his native Belfast home, surrounded by family members. His funeral was held at St Peter's Cathedral in Belfast: the ceremony was presided by Father Ciaran Dallat and saw the participation of the other members of the Guildford Four, the Maguire Seven, Irish Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and Conlon's former lawyer Gareth Peirce. References Further reading The Guardian, Obituary 22 June 2014 The Guardian, Guildford Four's Gerry Conlon dies of cancer in Belfast, aged 60, 22 June 2014 External links Belfast Telegraph article Standard article 1954 births 2014 deaths Deaths from lung cancer in Northern Ireland Overturned convictions in the United Kingdom People acquitted of murder People from Belfast People wrongfully convicted of murder