Donegal Sinn Fein member John Downey to appear again in court on Wednesday
A SENIOR Sinn Fein member accused of murdering four British solders in the 1982 IRA bombing at London’s Hyde Park is back in court on Wednesday.
John Anthony Downey, 61, of Carrigart, County Donegal, is charged with the murders of Roy John Bright, Dennis Richard Anthony Daly, Simon Andrew Tipper and Geoffrey Vernon Young.
The four Household Cavalry members were killed on route to Buckingham Palace.
The 61-year-old appeared at the Old Bailey two weeks ago but no bail application was made and he was remanded in custody.
He is due back in court on Wednesday where a bail application could be made.
Downey, who is originally from Co Cavan but has been living in Co Donegal, will appear at a preliminary hearing before Mr Justice Sweeney at London’s Old Bailey.
Mr Downey – who was arrested at Gatwick Airport after stepping off a plane earlier last month – is also charged with intending to cause an explosion likely to endanger life.
At his last hearing, he appeared in the court via videolink from Belmarsh prison.
The arrest of Downey provoked a strong reaction from Sinn Fein who called for his immediate release.
Donegal County Council passed a motion recently calling for his immediate release.
In the North, Sinn Féin Assembly member Gerry Kelly said Sinn Féin member Downey was a “long-time supporter of the Peace Process” and should be released.
Gerry Kelly added: “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 [‘On the Runs’].
“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.”