By Press Association 2021
IRA Hyde Park bombing
An award of “substantial damages” to “mark society’s condemnation” of the Hyde Park bombing can only be made if either Parliament or the Supreme Court allows it, a High Court judge has ruled.
Mr Justice Martin Spencer was asked at a hearing earlier this month to award “exemplary damages” because relatives of four British soldiers killed in the atrocity have been denied some “measure of justice, and thereby closure” with no-one ever been prosecuted, convicted and punished.
In a ruling on Wednesday, the judge said awarding such damages would require an extension of the law which would be “for either Parliament or the higher courts, and probably the Supreme Court”.
By Press Association 2021
IRA Hyde Park bombing
An award of “substantial damages” to “mark society’s condemnation” of the Hyde Park bombing can only be made if either Parliament or the Supreme Court allows it, a High Court judge has ruled.
Mr Justice Martin Spencer was asked at a hearing earlier this month to award “exemplary damages” because relatives of four British soldiers killed in the atrocity have been denied some “measure of justice, and thereby closure” with no-one ever been prosecuted, convicted and punished.
In a ruling on Wednesday, the judge said awarding such damages would require an extension of the law which would be “for either Parliament or the higher courts, and probably the Supreme Court”.
Families of Hyde Park bombing victims to challenge High Court ruling
PA
16 December 2020, 3:51 pm
Families of the Hyde Park bombing victims say they will challenge a decision not to award punitive damages to “mark society’s condemnation” of the atrocity.
Mr Justice Martin Spencer was asked at a High Court hearing earlier this month to award “exemplary damages” because relatives of four British soldiers killed in the atrocity have been denied some “measure of justice, and thereby closure” with no-one ever prosecuted, convicted and punished.
In a ruling on Wednesday, the judge said awarding such damages would require an extension of the law which would be “for either Parliament or the higher courts, and probably the Supreme Court”.
Families of the Hyde Park bombing victims have will challenge judge ruling
Judge ruled it was up to Parliament or the Supreme Court to award the damages
Said courts had never been asked to issue damages in terror attack civil claim
But he awarded more than £715,000 to daughter of one of the soldiers killed
High Court ruled last year John Downey was liable for the 1982 bombing
It killed servicemen Lance Cpl Jeffrey Young, 19, and Trooper Simon Tipper, 19.
Lieutenant Anthony Daly, 23, and Cpl Major Roy Bright, 36, were also killed
Hyde Park bombing: Family awarded £715,000 in damages Dead horses and wrecked cars in the aftermath of the IRA Hyde Park bomb attack on the Household Cavalry in 1982 Sian Harrison, PA 16 December, 2020 11:52
The family of one of four British soldiers killed in the July 1982 Hyde Park bombing has been awarded £715,000 in damages.
The ruling was made following a civil action against convicted IRA member John Downey after a criminal case collapsed at the Old Bailey in 2014.
A High Court judge ruled last year that Downey was an active participant in the bombing and was jointly responsible with others for the attack, which left 31 other people injured.