Bombing suspect will not face trial after police error
Hyde Park bombing suspect John Downey will not face trial after being given false assurance he was not wanted over the 1982 IRA attack.
Tributes to the NI peacemaker priest Father Alec Reid
Fr Reid worked tirelessly for years to end the Troubles in Northern Ireland, today he died peacefully in hospital. He will be remembered.
Secret army claims worrying but not surprising
Claims a shadowy military force were tasked with shooting IRA Volunteers - armed or not - are worrying, but not in the least surprising.
Live updates
Robinson requests Assembly recall after Downey case
Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson has requested the recall of the devolved Assembly after claiming a government deal that saw IRA terror suspects assured they would not be prosecuted also involved the granting of royal pardons.
Mr Robinson has already warned the Government he will resign unless a public inquiry is ordered into the controversy that has been triggered by the collapse of the Hyde Park bomb case.
Tonight he said the contents of a motion he would put before the Stormont Assembly during a session on Friday would depend on how the Government responded to his demand.
Mr Robinson issued the effective deadline ultimatum as he emerged from a meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers at Hillsborough Castle.
He said: "It appears that we are not just dealing with on-the-runs who received letters but we are also dealing with people who received the Royal Prerogative of Mercy, that indicates there were offences involved.
"So we are not talking just about people who it is believed that the police did not have sufficient evidence to make a prosecution stick - that makes it a very serious matter."
Govt 'not likely to change policy' after NI case collapse
by Tom Bradby - Political EditorThe government will conduct an audit of the letters who they went to and so on.
I don't think that they're going to rescind any of them and I don't think substantially they're in a mood to change the policy.
They're a little bit surprised that Peter Robinson didn't know about this part of the process.
They certainly think that people in the DUP did though, they're not saying that he should have known.
Clearly they have to take him at his word that he didn't.
They do think he's proably serious about resigning so they accept that there may be a political crisis.
Although I think that there is also a feeling here that perhaps having an election at this point and resigning at this point and causing an election in Northern Ireland wouldn't be the worst thing for the DUP, although they're also being very careful not to accuse him of cynicism.
I think it's very important to understand the distinctions here because it is a bit confusing. Paramilitary prisoners under the process served a maximum of two years and were out.
There were those who were suspected of crimes who are still potentially to be tried.
But there was this group in limbo who were on the run who were allowed to ask the police if they were suspected, if they weren't they were supposed to be giving those letters.
It's around then that this conspiracy is really focused.
Advertisement
Cameron: Hyde Park case collapse 'absolutely shocking'
David Cameron said it was "absolutely shocking" that Hyde Park suspect John Downey was not going to be tried for the bombing.
Read more: PM: 'Dreadful mistake' led to Hyde Park case collapse
Watch: Northern Ireland First Minister: 'We are in a crisis'
NI First Minister: 'We are in a crisis'
The collapse of the 1982 Hyde Park bombing case has sparked a crisis in the judicial system according to Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson
Mr Robinson said: "We're not on the brink of a crisis, we are in a crisis. This is a crisis. How could you have anything more than the setting aside of the proper judicial processes, where justice is not going to be done for at least 187 people?
"It is a crisis of confidence that the people of Northern Ireland will have on the policing and judicial processes in Northern Ireland and they are right to be angry."
Peter Robinson: Government 'kept us in the dark'
Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson has threatened to resign over the collapse of the case over the 1982 Hyde Park bombing and saying his administration have been deceived by Westminster.
Mr Robinson told UTV News he was "not prepared to remain as First Minister of an administration that kept us in the dark, that is being deceived by government, both past and present."
Read more: NI First Minister threatens to quit over case collapse
Robinson 'will not be a stooge for Westminster'
Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson said he was "not prepared to be a stooge" for the Westminster government, accusing them of "keeping secrets" on matters devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Read: NI First Minister threatens to quit over case collapse
His party, the Democratic Unionist Party, expressed his thoughts on Twitter.
Peter Robinson MLA - "I am not prepared to be a stooge for Westminster who keep secrets on matters which are now devolved to NI"
Peter Robinson MLA - "I want a full judicial inquiry to find out who knew, when they knew and what they knew"
Peter Robinson MLA "I am not prepared to be kept in the dark by Her Majesty's government about matters relevant to Northern Ireland"
Advertisement
Peter Robinson demands judicial inquiry
Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson indicated he was prepared to resign unless there was a judicial inquiry into the collapse of the John Downey case, saying:
"I have to say quite frankly that I am not prepared to be the first minister of a government that is kept in the dark on matters that are relevant to what we are doing."
NI First Minister threatens to quit over case collapse
Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson has threatened to resign over the collapse of the case over the 1982 Hyde Park bombing.
Mr Robinson told UTV News he, "will not lead an administration where the rule of law does not prevail."
PM: 'Dreadful mistake' led to Hyde Park case collapse
The actions that led to the collapse of the case against Hyde Park bombing suspect John Downey were a "dreadful mistake", Prime Minister David Cameron has said.
Mr Cameron said it was "absolutely shocking" that Downey was not going to be tried for the bombing.
Read more: N Ireland First Minister's quit threat over bomb trial collapse
He said: "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."
Attorney General: It was right Downey was charged
Ahead of statement in the Commons the Attorney General has said that it was 'right' John Downey was charged for the 1982 IRA Hyde Park bombing.
Before he was charged my consent was sought, as the law requires, for him to face a charge of causing an explosion. I gave that consent.
I believed then that it was right to do so and I remain of the same view today.
The allegations faced by Mr Downey were of the utmost seriousness. The bombing was an attempt by the Provisional IRA to bring their terrorist campaign to London and to attack armed forces personnel who were on ceremonial duties.
– Dominic Grieve, Attorney GeneralWhatever the circumstances in which the letter had been sent, and it is now clear that its assurances were wrongly given, it is right that the matter should be tested in court.
Neither I nor the CPS were prepared to accept that the letter and the circumstances in which it had been given were such as to automatically prevent Mr Downey's prosecution.
The case collapsed after it was revealed Mr Downey had received a letter in 2007 saying he would not face prosecution.
Today's top stories
