Man In Court Over Hyde Park Bomb

A man is due to appear at the Old Bailey in London charged over the Hyde Park IRA bomb which killed four people.

John Downey, 61, from Donegal, was arrested at Gatwick Airport last month over the 1982 attack.

He is accused of being responsible for a car bomb attack in South Carriage Drive in which soldiers were killed as they rode through Hyde Park for the changing of the guard.

Other members of the Royal Household Cavalry were injured in the attack, while seven horses were killed.

Downey is charged with murdering Roy Bright, Dennis Daly, Simon Tipper and Geoffrey Young.

He also faces charges of intending to cause an explosion likely to endanger life.

He will appear before Mr Justice Sweeney for the preliminary hearing.

Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly has criticised the decision to charge Mr Downey.

"John Downey is a member of Sinn Féin and a long time supporter of the Peace Process," he said.

"The decision to arrest and charge him in relation to IRA activities in the early 1980s is vindictive, unnecessary and unhelpful. It will cause anger within the republican community.

"Clearly if John Downey had been arrested and convicted previously he would have been released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

"This development represents bad faith and a departure from what was previously agreed by both governments."

But Sue Hemming, Head of Special Crime and Counter-Terrorism at the Crown Prosecution Service, said the move was in the best interests of the public.

"It is alleged that Downey is responsible for the improvised explosive device contained in a car parked in South Carriage Drive, SW1, London which resulted in the deaths of four members of the Household Cavalry, Blues and Royals, as they travelled on their daily route from their barracks to Buckingham Palace," she said.

"Downey has been charged with the murders of Roy John Bright, Dennis Richard Anthony Daly, Simon Andrew Tipper and Geoffrey Vernon Young. He has also been charged with intending to cause an explosion likely to endanger life contrary to s.3 Explosive Substances Act 1883.

"This decision was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. We have determined that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that these charges are in the public interest."

(IT)