Four members of Household Cavalry died in 1982 IRA Hyde Park bombings

A SENIOR Sinn Fein member accused of murdering four British solders in the 1982 IRA bombing in Hyde Park, London, has appeared in court for a bail hearing.

John Anthony Downey, 61, of Carrigart, County Donegal, is charged with the murders of Roy John Bright, Dennis Richard Anthony Daly, Simon Andrew Tipper and Geoffrey Vernon Young.

The four Household Cavalry members were killed on route to Buckingham Palace.

No bail application was made and Mr Downey was remanded until 5 June.

He will then appear at a preliminary hearing before Mr Justice Sweeney at the Old Bailey.

Mr Downey – who was arrested at Gatwick Airport on Sunday – is also charged with intending to cause an explosion likely to endanger life.

During Friday’s bail hearing he appeared in the court via videolink from Belmarsh prison.