Brother of Hyde Park bombing victim: 'I've been reduced to a beggar'
The brother of a 19-year-old man killed in an IRA bomb has told Downtown Cool FM he has 'been reduced to a beggar' in his fight for justice.
Last updated 21st Oct 2017
Mark Tipper's brother Simon was one of four soldiers killed in the 1982 attack.
He had been married for less than a month at the time.
For years the chief suspect, John Downey, was on the run from authorities.
When Downey was brought to trial in 2013 it emerged he had been given an 'On the Run' letter from the government.
A number of high profile IRA members received the controversial letters from the government to escape prosecution for crimes for which they were wanted.
Around 200 letters were sent by the Labour administration.
Mark has now launched civil proceedings against Downey but is unable to claim legal aid.
He has had to turn to crowd-funding to raise the funds for his legal costs.
"I feel as though I've been reduced to a beggar, I've never asked no one for anything, this is the first time I've ever had to do it.
"I'm so grateful and thankful to anyone who's helped us, contributing etc but I've been reduced to a beggar," he said.
Mark is determined to fight for justice for his brother but fears he will not be able to foot the legal bill for the case:
"It's like most things in life now, it boils down to money and unless we receive money to take this case forward, I can't see anyway that this is going to happen," he told Downtown Cool FM.
Since John Downey's case collapsed four years ago, Mark has raised £85,000 on crowd funding.
Mark says he blames the then Prime Minister:
"I can remember saying to the prosecution 'that's the end of it' and they looked at me as though I was talking out of my backside but that's exactly what it was.
"It was a get out of jail free card.
"There's only one person to blame for it and that's Mr Blair.
"He gave the letters, he couldn't get it through Parliament so he gave them through Downing Street," he said.