Hyde Park bombing arrest

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has charged John Downey, of County Donegal, Ireland, with the bombing that took place in Hyde Park on July 20, 1982.

The 61-year-old has been charged with intending to cause an explosion likely to endanger life and the murder of four soldiers.

Victims killed in the explosion, Roy Bright, Anthony Daly, Simon Tipper and Geoffrey Young, were members of the Royal Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals.

They were on their way to barracks at Buckingham Palace.

The regiment's armoured category is based at Combermere Barracks in St Leonard's Road.

CPS say Downey is responsible for the improvised explosive device in a car parked in South Carriage Drive.

Downey appeared for a hearing before Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday afternoon. (May 22)

Sue Hemming, head of special crime and counter-terrorism at the CPS, said: "We have determined that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that these charges are in the public interest."

In 1982 the Express reported how Windsor was on high alert in the aftermath of the bombings. As soon as it happened the police rushed to the barracks and banned parking on the road outside, patrols were stepped up and the route of the changing of the castle guard was changed.

The funeral of Lieutenant Anthony Daly, one of the victim of the Hyde Park blast was held at Windsor's Holy Trinity Church in Claremont Road on July 28, 1982, a week after the tragedy.

He and his wife Nicola had only just returned from honeymoon in Bermuda when he was killed while leading mounted members of the Blues and Royals through Hyde Park.

The 23-year-old's family chose Holy Trinity because it was the Garrison Church of the regiment. Both his father and grandfather had been based in the town.

He was educated at Eton College.