The prosecution of Hyde Park bombing suspect John Downey has collapsed after a “reckless” error led to him being given a false assurance that he was not wanted by British police over the IRA attack, it can now be reported.

Anthony Downey, 61, from Co Donegal, is to be charged over the IRA’s Hyde Park bombing in London which killed eight soldiers on July 20, 1982, the UK's Crown Prosecution Service said today.