PSNI knew Downey was a wanted man

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) knew John Downey, the man who was accused of committing the 1982 Hyde Park bombings, was wanted by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) before he was sent an ‘on the run’ letter, according to a senior officer.

Speaking at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on Wednesday, April 2, former Detective Chief Superintendent Norman Baxter said the PSNI was aware that Downey was still wanted by detectives in England when the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) sent the letter.

The administrative ‘on the run’ scheme was set up to deal with paramilitary figures on the run from terror charges and was introduced as part of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

In total, 228 letters were sent to terrorist suspects on behalf of the Northern Ireland government; 198 of those letters stated that the recipients were not wanted for crimes committed before 1998.

One of the men who received a letter effectively exonerating him is John Downey, who is alleged to have carried out the 1982 Hyde Park bombings where four soldiers were killed.

On February 21, the High Court ruled that Downey would not face prosecution because the letter stated that neither the PSNI nor any other police force had an interest in him, despite the MPS’ Counter Terrorism Command wanting him.

The committee also heard evidence that in 2007, the Sinn Fein leader, Gerry Adams, asked Downing Street for IRA prisoners to be released.

The committee heard that a member of Sinn Fein rang the British government asking for the release of Gerry McGeough and Vincent McAnespie, who had been arrested after attempting to murder an Ulster Defence Regiment soldier.

It is not known if McGeough and McAnespie received exoneration letters from the NIO.

Mr Baxter told the committee that in 2007 he received a phone call from his assistant chief constable suggesting he should release the prisoners.

Mr Baxter refused and the men were subsequently charged. He told the committee:

“That in my mind is attempting to pervert the course of justice and that was conveyed back to headquarters. I don’t know who the personality in Downing Street was but as a police officer that is totally illegal and unconstitutional.”

He also said there was a culture within the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) to ensure republicans were not prosecuted.

He criticised the current Northern Ireland Secretary, Theresa Villiers, who he felt had scapegoated the PSNI.

“I thought the Secretary of State`s statement was quite disgraceful in blaming the police without any due process,” he said.

“I honestly think that she, by doing so, was covering up for what was going on with this administrative process.”