The leader of Northern Ireland’s devolved government has threatened to quit unless a judicial review is ordered into the collapse of the Hyde Park bomb trial.
Peter Robinson said he was not prepared to be First Minister in the administration unless he received answers, and added that he had been left in the dark by the British Government.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland yesterday accepted the blame for telling Donegal man John Downey (62) in 2007 that he was not wanted for prosecution for IRA offences when he was, in fact, still wanted for questioning about the Hyde Park bombing in London in 1982.
Mr Downey was stopped at Gatwick airporton his way to Greece for a holiday last May by a police officer after a computer check revealed he was listed as a suspect in the bombing, which killed four soldiers, left 31 injured and saw the deaths of seven horses.
He challenged his prosecution on the grounds of abuse of process, insisting he was given a letter in 2007 by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) that he did not face prosecution for any crimes committed during the Troubles.
However, the letter was based on faulty information passed on by PSNI assistant chief constable Peter Sheridan. The PSNI had dropped its own interest in him in connection with five incidents, but it did not tell the NIO of the Metropolitan Police’s continuing interest in him.
Mr Robinson said today he was outraged by the events. “I am not prepared to be the First Minister of a government that has found itself having salient facts relevant to matters that are devolved hidden from them,” he said.
“That is not acceptable to me. I want to have a full judicial inquiry into who knew what, when they knew it and exactly what they did know at the time.
“I also want to ensure that the letters that have been sent out are rescinded.”
In the House of Commons today, British prime minister David Cameron said the actions that led to the collapse of the case were a "dreadful mistake" .
Mr Cameron said it was “absolutely shocking” that Downey was not going to be tried for the bombing.
“I completely understand the depth of anger and concern that people will feel right across this country about the appalling events that happened in 1982 and the fact the person responsible is now not going to be appropriately tried. “Of course, that is absolutely shocking and our first thought should be with those 11 soldiers and their families and their friends.
“It may have happened 32 years ago but anyone who has lost someone in a situation like that will mourn them today as if it happened yesterday.”
Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers acknowledged the "very serious implications" that the collapse of the case could have on the stability and devolution of the country and said the Government did not support an amnesty for terrorists.
She told the Commons during Northern Ireland questions: “This Government does not support amnesties for terrorists and we oppose the legislation put forward by the previous government, which would have amounted to an effective amnesty.”
Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in Westminster, Nigel Dodds warned of "outrage" sweeping the country, threatening to destabilise the North.
“The words of devastation from the families of the soldiers concerned in the Hyde Park bombing are an indictment of what is going on,” he said. “There is outrage right across the country, not just in Northern Ireland, but right across the country about this. How an official’s letter can trump due process of law in this country.
“Will you realise how serious this is, not just for the process of law and order but for the very stability and continued existence of devolution in Northern Ireland where the Assembly has full responsibility for policing and justice, and on which these facts were held from the justice minister and the First Minister? This has very serious implications for devolution.”
PA
