IRA bomb suspect sued
Alleged Hyde Park killer ‘won’t give address to families’ lawyers’
THE alleged perpetrator of the Hyde Park bombing refuses to give his address to lawyers for the victims’ relatives – and sold property shortly before he was served with papers in a case against him, a court has heard.
The London High Court has begun hearing the lawsuit taken by the relatives against Donegal man John Downey.
The groundbreaking case could see other IRA atrocities from the 1970s and 1980s being brought before the UK courts.
Relatives of the four British soldiers who died in the July 1982 blast are hoping to recover damages from Mr Downey in the first case to test whether those affected by decades-old IRA attacks can sue the alleged bombers. Squadron Quartermaster Corporal Roy Bright, 36, Lieutenant Dennis Daly, 23, Trooper Simon Tipper, 19, and Lance Corporal Jeffrey Young, 19, were killed by a nail bomb as they rode through the central London park to attend the changing of the guard.
Several other guardsmen suffered horrific injuries, while seven horses were also killed. Another horse, Sefton, survived terrible injuries.
The attack horrified the public in Ireland and Britain when photographs appeared in newspapers showing dying soldiers and horses with heavy nails stuck in their bodies. Police believe the bomb was detonated remotely by an IRA member sitting in the park.
The hearing in front of Judge Richard Davison in London was told lawyers have been in touch with Mr Downey by email. The court heard he owns two properties in Donegal but has sold part of one and mortgaged the other.
Anne Studd, QC, representing the family of Lance Corporal Jeffrey
‘He owns property in Ireland’
Young said: ‘He certainly owns property in Ireland.’ Addressing his first property she said: ‘Shortly before these proceedings were served on him, [he] sold part of it.
‘He owns a second property – they are about 400 yards apart.’
Ms Studd said his assets could form part of any judgement against him, should the action be successful. It is understood Mr Downey has filed a defence but will not attend the proceedings in person.
The families will rely on fingerprint evidence and explosive experts in their case, which looks to place liability on Mr Downey.
Ms Studd said: ‘There was an examination of the fingerprints at the time but as we can see from the defence the veracity of that expert is challenged.’ She said family members have posted legal documents to Mr Downey’s addresses in Co. Donegal but that he has not been picking up his mail.
Ms Studd added: ‘The defendant has not been willing to tell us where he is.’ It was decided that legal documents could be sent to Mr Downey over email provided the letters were still sent to addresses under his name.
Judge Davison said: ‘I have seen the email that you raise, on the court record form, from the defendant. Essentially, he just leaves everything in the court’s hands.
‘He is not in a position to make any submissions as such. All he says is he is not going to partake. We have got to assume at some point he might change his mind.’
A five-day trial is likely to place at the court on October 1 next year.
Mr Downey first came to police attention in 1971 for involvement with the IRA and activity in the Fermanagh and Donegal area. He was convicted of membership of a prohibited organisation in the Special Criminal Court here on March 21, 1974, but was acquitted of the same offences two years later.
He was also wanted in relation to the murder of two Ulster Defence Regiment members and causing an explosion in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, on August 28, 1972.
He was charged four years ago with the Hyde Park murders, but the prosecution at the Old Bailey collapsed in 2014 and Mr Downey has denied any involvement in the atrocity. Relatives of those killed launched a legal action against Mr Downey after the collapse of the trial, and the first hearing in the case took place yesterday.
The families initially asked for help with legal fees through crowdfunding after being refused legal aid five times, but have since been granted public funding to pursue the case. The criminal case against Mr Downey collapsed after it was revealed he had received a written assurance from ex-British prime minister Tony Blair’s government that he was no longer wanted. The letter was issued under the terms of the controversial On The Runs (OTRs) scheme – a system to allow escaped IRA members to return home that was negotiated by Sinn Féin in peace talks.