Judgement in Monk's Regency Hotel murder trial expected in April

The Special Criminal Court has reserved judgement in the trial of Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch and two co-accused charged in connection with the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016. After 52 days of evidence, Justice Tara Burns, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Grainne Malone, indicated that judgement will be delivered by 17 April 2023 at the latest. Hutch, aged 59, denies murdering Byrne during a boxing weigh-in. His co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, both from Dublin, deny charges of participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles. During closing arguments, defence counsel challenged the prosecution's case on identification of vehicles and movements, particularly regarding allegations that a BMW X5 jeep and Toyota Avensis taxi were used to transport assailants. The defence submitted there were significant gaps in the State's evidence regarding phone records and CCTV footage. Counsel for Murphy argued the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.