Hyde Park bomb accused arrested on suspicion of murder of two soldiers in 1972

A man whose trial over the IRA's Hyde Park bomb collapsed in controversialcircumstances has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of two soldiers in County Fermanagh in 1972.

John Downey was arrested by Gardaí in County Donegal on Monday evening as part of a joint operation with the PSNI.

Mr Downey, 66, is expected to appear at Dublin High Court on Tuesday afternoon to face extradition proceedings.

The Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland there was sufficient evidence to prosecute him for the murders of Lance Corporal Alfred Johnston and Private James Eames.

They died when an IRA bomb exploded in a car they were checking on theIrvinestown Road, Cherrymount, Enniskillen on August 25, 1972.

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

He stood trial at the Old Bailey, but the case collapsed after it was revealed he had received a written assurance from the government guaranteeing he would not face trial.

The letter was issued under the terms of the controversial On The Runsscheme.

Mr Downey has always denied any involvement in the Hyde Park attack.

The families of the two deceased have been kept informed of developments.