A man accused of murdering four soldiers in the IRA bomb attack at London’s Hyde Park in 1982 has been arrested on suspicion of murdering two other soldiers in a separate attack.
In 1972, Lance Corporal Alfred Johnston and Private James Eames died when an IRA bomb exploded in a car they were checking in Enniskillen on 25th August 1972. They were both from the Ulster Defence Regiment.
John Downey, 66, was arrested on Monday in Co Donegal, Republic of Ireland. He will appear at the high court in Dublin and is expected to face proceedings.
Mr Downey was due to stand trial in 2014 for the Hyde Park attack but the trail collapsed because of a secret letter from the British government that gave him a guarantee that he would not have to face trail.
Shortly after the Hyde Park trail collapsed, the 1972 murder investigation was reopened by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. It was revealed that the police had uncovered evidence that linked Mr Downey to the Enniskillen attack.
What was the Hyde Park bombing?
The Hyde Park attack happened in 1982, four men and seven horses were killed plus several police officers and civilians were injured. The four men were travelling to Buckingham Palace when they were killed. There was at least 51 people were taken to hospital with injuries from the attack.
The bomb was packed with nails that were said to be four to six inches long. The ‘nail bomb’ was placed in a parked car and was almost certain to be exploded by a control.
The bomb exploded when a Household Cavalry troop headed to a Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham place on 20th July 1982.
The four British soldiers that died in the attack are Lance Corporal Young, Corporal Roy Bright, Trooper Simon Tipper and Lieutenant Anthony Daly.
Two hours after this attack another bomb happened, a remote-control bomb killed seven bandsmen from the Royal Greens Jackets at Regent’s Park. It is said that these two bombings are linked.
Mr John Downey’s finger prints were found on two parking tickets by the bombing. He also was associated with the IRA; the IRA is the believed bombers.
