LATEST: SINN Fein has called for the immediate release of Carrigart man John Downey, who has appeared in court charged with the murders of four soldiers in London.
Commenting on the arrest and decision to charge Mr Downey in connection with an IRA bomb at Hyde Park in 1982, Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly said: “John Downey is a member of Sinn Féin and a long-time supporter of the Peace Process.
“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.
“As part of the Weston Park negotiation the British Government committed to resolving the position of OTRs. John Downey received a letter from the NIO in 2007 stating that he was not wanted by the PSNI or any British Police Force. Despite travelling to England on many occasions now six years on he finds himself before the courts on these historic charges.
“This development represents bad faith and a departure from what was previously agreed by both governments.
“John Downey needs to be released and allowed to return home to his family.”
Mr Downey was arrested at Gatwick Airport on Sunday on his way to a holiday.
In court today, Downey wore a grey jumper over a white shirt, grey-haired Downey spoke only to confirm his, date of birth and address during the short hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today.
He briefly greeted his solicitor Gareth Peirce from the dock.
He is charged with murdering Roy John Bright, Dennis Richard Anthony Daly, Simon Andrew Tipper and Geoffrey Vernon Young.
They were among soldiers who were caught up in the bomb attack as they rode through Hyde Park to the Changing of the Guard.
Four men and seven horses were killed and a number of police officers and civilians were injured in the blast.
Downey has also been charged with intending to cause an explosion likely to endanger life.
He will next appear at the Old Bailey on Friday.
Under the Good Friday Agreement, anyone convicted of a offences which took place before April 15 1998 and the signing of the agreement can request to be transferred to a prison in Northern Ireland and then apply to the Sentence Review Commissioners to be released after serving two years in custody.