article_snippet: But Letters only came to light last year after the collapse of the terror trail of IRA suspect John Downey, who was accused of murdering four soldiers in the 1982 Hyde Park bombing in London.
article_snippet: In the fall-out from the trail's collapse, the Government ministers launched an inquiry into Letters – and insisted Government ministers were not 'get out of jail free cards' for terrorists.
article_snippet: Following the Government's intervention detectives now believe Letters do not protect suspects from prosecution, documents leaked to the Telegraph reveal.
article_snippet: IRA terror suspect John Downey was wrongly sent an immunity letter .
highlights_snippet: Letters emerged in trial of Hyde Park bomb suspect John Downey .
  
highlights_snippet: But the Government have insisted Letters do not provide immunity .
  