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| Northern Ireland government at risk of collapse over Hyde Park bomb ruling | Northern Ireland government at risk of collapse over Hyde Park bomb ruling |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Northern Ireland's power-sharing government is under threat of collapse after the first minister, Peter Robinson, warned he would resign unless there was a judicial review into how the case against a suspected IRA Hyde Park bomber collapsed. | Northern Ireland's power-sharing government is under threat of collapse after the first minister, Peter Robinson, warned he would resign unless there was a judicial review into how the case against a suspected IRA Hyde Park bomber collapsed. |
| Robinson and the Democratic Unionists – the largest party in the region – have come under fire from grassroots unionists over their continuation in government with Sinn Féin since revelations in the Old Bailey on Tuesday that secret letters from the Northern Ireland Office gave a de facto amnesty to 187 IRA fugitives or so-called "on the runs". | Robinson and the Democratic Unionists – the largest party in the region – have come under fire from grassroots unionists over their continuation in government with Sinn Féin since revelations in the Old Bailey on Tuesday that secret letters from the Northern Ireland Office gave a de facto amnesty to 187 IRA fugitives or so-called "on the runs". |
| The decision to free John Downey in court on Tuesday has created the most dangerous political crisis at Stormont since devolution was restored and a five-party coalition regional government was formed in 2007. | The decision to free John Downey in court on Tuesday has created the most dangerous political crisis at Stormont since devolution was restored and a five-party coalition regional government was formed in 2007. |
| Robinson called for all the letters sent out to be rescinded and "full disclosure" to be made of what had happened. | Robinson called for all the letters sent out to be rescinded and "full disclosure" to be made of what had happened. |
| "I am not prepared to be kept in the dark by Her Majesty's government about matters relevant to Northern Ireland," he said. | "I am not prepared to be kept in the dark by Her Majesty's government about matters relevant to Northern Ireland," he said. |
| "I want a full judicial inquiry to find out who knew, when they knew and what they knew. I want to know who they are and what crimes they are believed to have committed." | "I want a full judicial inquiry to find out who knew, when they knew and what they knew. I want to know who they are and what crimes they are believed to have committed." |
| The first minister said he felt deceived by the government, and if he and the former DUP leader Ian Paisley had known about this, they would not have entered into a power-sharing government with Sinn Féin in 2007. | The first minister said he felt deceived by the government, and if he and the former DUP leader Ian Paisley had known about this, they would not have entered into a power-sharing government with Sinn Féin in 2007. |
| "I am not prepared to be a stooge for Westminster, who keep secrets on matters which are now devolved to Northern Ireland," he said. | |
| David Cameron has condemned the actions that led to the collapse of the case against Downey as a "dreadful mistake". | David Cameron has condemned the actions that led to the collapse of the case against Downey as a "dreadful mistake". |
| The prime minister told the Commons the letter giving Downey a false assurance that he was not wanted by British police over the IRA attack should never have been sent and a rapid factual review would be carried out to make sure "this cannot happen again". | The prime minister told the Commons the letter giving Downey a false assurance that he was not wanted by British police over the IRA attack should never have been sent and a rapid factual review would be carried out to make sure "this cannot happen again". |
| "But whatever happens we have to stick to the principle that we are a country and a government under the rule of law." | "But whatever happens we have to stick to the principle that we are a country and a government under the rule of law." |
| Cameron said it was "absolutely shocking" that Downey was not going to be tried for the bombing. | Cameron said it was "absolutely shocking" that Downey was not going to be tried for the bombing. |
| He said: "I completely understand the depth of anger and concern that people will feel right across this country about the appalling events that happened in 1982 and the fact the person responsible is now not going to be appropriately tried. | He said: "I completely understand the depth of anger and concern that people will feel right across this country about the appalling events that happened in 1982 and the fact the person responsible is now not going to be appropriately tried. |
| "Of course, that is absolutely shocking and our first thought should be with those 11 soldiers and their families and their friends. | "Of course, that is absolutely shocking and our first thought should be with those 11 soldiers and their families and their friends. |
| "It may have happened 32 years ago but anyone who has lost someone in a situation like that will mourn them today as if it happened yesterday." | "It may have happened 32 years ago but anyone who has lost someone in a situation like that will mourn them today as if it happened yesterday." |
| Families of the victims of the bloody 1982 attack, in which four soldiers died, said they felt "devastatingly let down" by the decision. | Families of the victims of the bloody 1982 attack, in which four soldiers died, said they felt "devastatingly let down" by the decision. |
| Earlier Robinson's DUP colleague and North Belfast MP, Nigel Dodds, said the deal, which was kept secret from unionists in negotiations leading up to the 2006 St Andrew's agreement, would have "very, very serious implications for Northern Ireland devolution". | Earlier Robinson's DUP colleague and North Belfast MP, Nigel Dodds, said the deal, which was kept secret from unionists in negotiations leading up to the 2006 St Andrew's agreement, would have "very, very serious implications for Northern Ireland devolution". |
| His colleague, the East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell, said the DUP would not have gone into power sharing with Sinn Féin after the St Andrew's agreement if they had known of the scheme that gave a de facto get-out-of-jail card for IRA "on the runs". | His colleague, the East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell, said the DUP would not have gone into power sharing with Sinn Féin after the St Andrew's agreement if they had known of the scheme that gave a de facto get-out-of-jail card for IRA "on the runs". |
| "If we had been sitting across the table discussing the possibility of a new system of government and someone had said: 'By the way, here is an essential ingredient without which no deal can be done,' then we would have said: 'Then no deal can be done,'" Campbell said. | "If we had been sitting across the table discussing the possibility of a new system of government and someone had said: 'By the way, here is an essential ingredient without which no deal can be done,' then we would have said: 'Then no deal can be done,'" Campbell said. |
| The DUP is increasingly concerned that unionist hostility to the deal will inflict huge electoral damage on the party in the forthcoming local and European elections held in the region in May. They are particularly fearful that the hardline Traditional Unionist Voice, led by the barrister and former DUP MEP Jim Allister, will make electoral gains at their expense as unionist voters register their opposition not only to the deal on IRA fugitives but also to sharing power with Sinn Féin. | The DUP is increasingly concerned that unionist hostility to the deal will inflict huge electoral damage on the party in the forthcoming local and European elections held in the region in May. They are particularly fearful that the hardline Traditional Unionist Voice, led by the barrister and former DUP MEP Jim Allister, will make electoral gains at their expense as unionist voters register their opposition not only to the deal on IRA fugitives but also to sharing power with Sinn Féin. |
| The Northern Ireland secretary, Theresa Villiers, is to hold emergency talks with the first minister later on Wednesday in an effort to defuse the crisis. | The Northern Ireland secretary, Theresa Villiers, is to hold emergency talks with the first minister later on Wednesday in an effort to defuse the crisis. |
| Loyalist paramilitaries have also entered the controversy, with the political wing of the Ulster Defence Association demanding on Wednesday that all historical Troubles-related cases involving both loyalists and members of the security forces be scrapped in light of the Old Bailey revelations. The West Belfast Branch of the Ulster Political Research Group said all loyalists and security force members caught up in historical inquiries should be granted amnesties. | Loyalist paramilitaries have also entered the controversy, with the political wing of the Ulster Defence Association demanding on Wednesday that all historical Troubles-related cases involving both loyalists and members of the security forces be scrapped in light of the Old Bailey revelations. The West Belfast Branch of the Ulster Political Research Group said all loyalists and security force members caught up in historical inquiries should be granted amnesties. |
| Gerry Kelly, a Sinn Féin junior minister in the power-sharing government and an ex-IRA member who bombed the Old Bailey in 1973, described the letters given to Downey and other IRA "on the runs" as a pragmatic move to secure the peace process. Kelly accused the unionists of electioneering by threatening to pull out of the power-sharing coalition. | Gerry Kelly, a Sinn Féin junior minister in the power-sharing government and an ex-IRA member who bombed the Old Bailey in 1973, described the letters given to Downey and other IRA "on the runs" as a pragmatic move to secure the peace process. Kelly accused the unionists of electioneering by threatening to pull out of the power-sharing coalition. |