Hyde Park bomb: Peter Hain 'astounded' over Downey charges

A man accused of four murders in an IRA bombing will not be prosecuted because he received a previous guarantee he would not be taken to court.

It follows a judge's ruling that an official assurance given in error meant the suspect could not be prosecuted.

John Downey, 62, was accused of bombing soldiers in Hyde Park in 1982.

Former Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said he was "astonished" the prosecution case against Mr Downey had ever made it to court.