John Downey: Man Charged With Murder Of Soldiers Denied Bail

John Downey arrives at Omagh Magistrates' Court (Picture: PA).

A man charged with the murder of two soldiers in Northern Ireland has been refused bail.

John Downey, accused of the murders of two Ulster Defence Regiment soldiers in August 1972, was extradited to the UK after being arrested in the Republic of Ireland.

He is also accused of a further explosives charge. 

Lance Corporal Alfred Johnston and Private James Eames died when a device exploded in a car they were checking on Irvinestown Road, Cherrymount, Enniskillen.

Mr Downey handed himself in to Letterkenny Garda Station on Friday after he lost an appeal to challenge his extradition in July this year.

He was arrested in October last year under a European Arrest Warrant after authorities in Northern Ireland determined they had sufficient evidence to charge him with the murders of Mr Johnston and Mr Eames.

The 67-year-old appeared at Omagh Magistrates' Court on Saturday morning.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell told the court: "Police object to bail for the defendant on the grounds that he is a flight risk.

"The defendant did not consent to be extradited and appealed to High Court in Dublin."

Mr Caldwell went on to list the number of hearings Mr Downey had gone through to fight extradition in the Republic of Ireland, before stating: "In light of all of this, police are of the view the defendant doesn't want to face trial in Northern Ireland."

But Mr Downey's barrister Michael Duffy said the accused is not a flight risk as he has nowhere else to go.

Mr Duffy concluded any trial would be a lengthy and complicated one, adding it would be an "affront to justice" not to grant bail.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan took a recess in his chamber for several minutes before making his decision.

He said his decision was "far from straightforward" but concluded: "I find he is a flight risk, and so I do refuse bail."

Mr Ranaghan told Mr Downey he has the right to appeal against the decision.

In 2013, Mr Downey was charged with murdering four Royal Household Cavalrymen in a bomb attack in London's Hyde Park in 1982.

He was tried at the Old Bailey in 2014 but the case collapsed after it was revealed he had received a written assurance from former prime minister Tony Blair's government that he was not actively wanted by the authorities.