Murder charges over 1982 Hyde Park cavalry bombing

Sefton, right, amongst Echo.

A human being has been charged amongst iv counts of murder over the 31-year-old Hyde Park bombing which claimed the lives of iv cavalry soldiers together with 7 mounts.

The men were riding from their barracks inwards Knightsbridge to Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guard when the bomb, hidden inwards a bluish Austin car, went off.

Several horses of the Household Cavalry, Blues together with Royals regiment survived the blast, amongst one, named Sefton, becoming a identify lift inwards U.K. every bit he fought his means dorsum from horrific injuries.

The boom was purpose of the long-running Irish Gaelic Republican Army bombing stimulate waged on mainland Britain.

Inquiries past times London’s Metropolitan Police Service accept resulted inwards the charges against John Anthony Downey, 61, of County Donegal, Ireland, over the July 20, 1982, blast.

Sue Hemming, who heads exceptional law-breaking together with counter-terrorism at the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “It is alleged that Downey is responsible for the improvised explosive device contained inwards a auto parked inwards South Carriage Drive, SW1, London, which resulted inwards the deaths of iv members of the Household Cavalry, Blues together with Royals, every bit they travelled on their daily route from their barracks to Buckingham Palace.”

Downey stands defendant of the murders of Roy John Bright, Dennis Richard Anthony Daly, Simon Andrew Tipper, together with Geoffrey Vernon Young.

He has too been charged amongst intending to stimulate an explosion probable to endanger life.

“We accept determined that in that place is sufficient bear witness for a realistic prospect of conviction together with that these charges are inwards Earth interest,” Hemming said.

Downey appeared inwards Westminster Magistrates’ Court terminal calendar week via a video link from prison theatre together with was remanded inwards custody until June 5.

Cavalry Equus caballus Sefton, xix at the fourth dimension of the blast, suffered 38 penetrating wounds to his trunk together with a slice of metallic severed a primary artery inwards his cervix inwards the blast.

It was a miracle of skillful together with prompt veterinarian attending which saved Sefton’s life, together with he underwent viii hours of operation to take away the shrapnel together with tend to his wound. He required farther operation together with 3 weeks later on was moved to the Veterinary Hospital of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps at the Defence Animal Centre at Melton Mowbray, where to a greater extent than pieces of metallic were removed.

After recovering from his injuries he returned to service inwards the Household Cavalry for ii years, earlier retiring to The Home of Rest for Horses, run past times the The Horse Trust inwards Britain, where he lived until his decease inwards 1993.

He was buried at the Defence Animal Centre.

Born inwards Republic of Ireland together with purchased past times the regular army inwards 1967 for the Household Cavalry, the 16-hand dark gelding amongst a blaze together with iv socks was known for his bold together with wilful character.

Quite head-strong at times, The Horse Trust reported that Sefton was at his happiest grazing inwards the fields amongst his horsey friends.

One of those friends was the 16.1-hand grayness gelding, Echo, the Metropolitan Police Equus caballus who carried the marks of the same gear upwards on amongst a slice of shrapnel embedded inwards his side.

Echo had made a goodness recovery from his wounds but was unable to piece of occupation along amongst his duties every bit the explosion had made him nervous of traffic together with crowds. He was retired to The Horse Trust inwards 1983.

He was described every bit a sweet-natured together with amiable together with contentedly lived at the sanctuary for xx years until his decease from recurring colic inwards Dec 2003 at the historic stream of 33.

Sefton did non provide to regimental duties for around time, but was a Equus caballus rattling much inwards need past times the public.

One of his showtime appearances was at the Horse of the Year Show inwards Oct 1982, where he was joined past times Echo, which directly brought the audience to a standing together with emotional ovation.

Sefton’s terminal ceremonial outing was at The Queen’s Birthday Parade inwards June 1984. He was together with thus retired to The Horse Trust at the historic stream of 21.

The terminal of the surviving horses at the charity was the 16-hand gelding Yeti. He was known every bit the piffling Equus caballus that everyone forgot. Yeti endeared himself to everyone together with was the image of an former gentleman.

Horse Trust yard managing director Shirley Abbott commented: “Yeti together with Echo were inseparable. With the help together with expertise of our staff they were able to grow former together together with alive a long together with peaceful life.

“It was a privilege to live able to repay these horses, who had given a life of service, amongst the companionable peace of the Home of Rest for Horses.”

A commemorative, life-size, bronze sculpture of Sefton past times creative somebody Camilla Le May is beingness cast together with finished. It is planned to unveil the statue at the Royal Veterinary College soon.

Sefton’s retention endures inwards other ways. The British Horse Society holds the annual Sefton Awards, which honour
outstanding contributions inwards the champaign of riding together with route safety. The awards were established inwards 1984.

The Hyde Park boom was 1 of ii Irish Gaelic Republican Army bombings inwards London that day. The other, simply over ii hours later on inwards Regent’s Park, peppered a crowd of 120 during a musical performance, killing 7 band members together with injuring to a greater extent than than l people.

 

 

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