Pat Doherty MP visits John Downey in Belmarsh Prison, meets Irish Embassy

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

The decision to arrest and charge John Downey is vindictive, unnecessary and unhelpful and is a source of anger within the republican community

WEST TYRONE Sinn Féin MP Pat Doherty visited Donegal republican John Downey in Belmarsh Prison on Thursday morning and was meeting Irish Embassy diplomats in London later to discuss the case.

Following his visit with John, Pat Doherty (right) said he had assured John of Sinn Féin’s solidarity and support.

“John was very relaxed and in good spirits despite the situation in which he has been placed through the latest instance of broken British commitments.

“I assured John that Sinn Féin will pursue every avenue available to us to hold the British Government to its commitments and secure his release.

“John Downey is a member of Sinn Féin and a long-time supporter of the Peace Process. The decision to arrest and charge him in relation to IRA activities in the early 1980s is vindictive, unnecessary and unhelpful and is a source of anger within the republican community.

“As part of the Weston Park negotiation the British Government committed to resolving the position of 'On the Runs' (OTRs), John Downey received a letter from the NIO in 2007 stating that he was not wanted by the PSNI or any British police force. Despite travelling to England on many occasions, now, six years on, he finds himself before the courts on these historic charges.

“This development represents bad faith and a departure from what was agreed by both governments. I will be raising these issues with the Irish Embassy this afternoon.

“John Downey needs to be released and allowed to return home to his family.”