A former Provisional IRA member suspected of carrying out a deadly bombing in London in the 1980s walked free from the Old Bailey, after it turned out that the cops had given him a false assurance that he would not be prosecuted.  That and passage of time led the judge to toss the case.

“I wish to apologize to the families of the victims and survivors of the Hyde Park atrocity,” said Northern Ireland Chief Constable Matt Baggott.

62-year old John Downey denied having anything to with the deaths of four British police in the infamous Hyde Park bombing, although the police had long suspected him.  In 2007, police sent him an official letter claiming that Downey was not wanted in London in connection with the bombing.

“There are no warrants in existence, nor are you wanted in Northern Ireland for arrest, questioning or charging by police. The Police Service of Northern Ireland are not aware of any interest in you by any other police force,” the letter read.

Downey’s defense produced this letter after cops arrested him at Gatwick Airport in May 2013 attempting to board a flight to Greece.

The judge says this letter’s false assurance was a “catastrophic failure” that misled the defendant and a trial would be an abuse of executive power.  This ruling may affect 186 people wanted for terror-related offences during “the Troubles” who received similar assurances.

The attack occurred in London’s Hyde Park on 20 July 1982.  The Provos had placed a car bomb along the route where Queen Elizabeth II’s bodyguard regiment would pass on horseback during the changing of the guard.  Three soldiers of the Blues and Royals were instantly killed, the fourth died a few days later.  Seven horses were either killed on the spot or had to be put down.