Courts / Dublin / Report

Garda accounts of Hutch identification "a dog's dinner", defence barrister tells court

Date
2018-01-22

Stage
Charge Or Pretrial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In the Special Criminal Court, Patrick Hutch, aged 25, pleads not guilty to the murder of Mr Byrne, aged 34, at the Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016. Hutch also denies possession of three AK‑47 assault rifles linked to the shooting. The prosecution alleges Hutch was the man dressed as a woman in a photo taken outside the hotel, and that he was part of a shared intention to commit the offence, though he did not fire the gun. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC argues that the identification of Hutch by detectives Fergal O'Flaherty and Jonathan Brady was "sullied and tainted", based on flawed evidence and unfair procedure. He requests exclusion of the identification, citing lack of reliable records, ambiguity in the detectives' statements, and the absence of a clear, documented identification process. The court will hear further submissions tomorrow before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Ann Ryan.