Courts / Dublin / Report
Former Sinn Fein Councillor gets murder trial date
Summary
Former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall, 43, and three co-accused have been fixed for trial at the Special Criminal Court regarding the 2016 murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin 9. In July, gardaí served Books of Evidence on the four men, who are all charged in connection with the killing. Mr. Byrne was shot dead on February 5, 2016, after five men, three disguised as armed gardaí, stormed the building during a boxing weigh-in. Jonathan Dowdall is charged with the murder of David Byrne, contrary to Common Law. His father, Patrick Dowdall, 64, is accused of facilitating a serious offence by making a hotel room available to a criminal organisation on February 4, 2016. Co-accused Paul Murphy, 59, is charged with supplying logistical support to a six-man team and providing access to motor vehicles. Jason Bonney, 50, is also charged with facilitating a serious offence by providing access to motor vehicles. Prosecuting barrister Fiona Murphy SC indicated an objection to Mr. Bonney's free legal aid application, with his case put in for October 7, 2021, for mention. Mr. Justice Tony Hunt fixed October 3, 2022, for a trial that could last up to 12 weeks, and put the matter in for an update on April 25, 2022.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Former Sinn Fein Councillor gets murder trial date. Charges or matters: the murder of David Byrne, contrary to Common Law, at the hotel on the Swords Road, Whitehall, Dublin 9, on February 5, 2016; supplying logistical support to a six-man team suspected of carrying out the murder on February 5, 2016; participating in or contributing to activity intending to or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation or any of its members, to wit the murder of David Byrne, by providing access to individual motor vehicles to that criminal organisation or its members, within the State on February 5, 2016; participating in, or contributing to, activity intending to, or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a c
When:
- February 2016 Other
- February 5, 2016 Incident
- February 4, 2016 Incident
- October 7, 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 3, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 25, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2021-09-14 Publication
Case subjects
Co Accused
Charges: supplying logistical support to a six-man team suspected of carrying out the murder on February 5, 2016; participating in or contributing to activity intending to or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation or any of its members, to wit the murder of David Byrne, by providing access to individual motor vehicles to that criminal organisation or its members, within the State on February 5, 2016; participating in, or contributing to, activity intending to, or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation or any of its members, to wit the murder of David Byrne, by providing access to individual motor vehicles to that criminal organisation or its members, within the State on February 5, 2016 (Alleged Or Contested)
Accused
Charges: the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel will go on trial alongside three co-accused at the Special Criminal Court next year; the murder of David Byrne, contrary to Common Law, at the hotel on the Swords Road, Whitehall, Dublin 9, on February 5, 2016; supplying logistical support to a six-man team suspected of carrying out the murder on February 5, 2016; participating in or contributing to activity intending to or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation or any of its members, to wit the murder of David Byrne, by providing access to individual motor vehicles to that criminal organisation or its members, within the State on February 5, 2016; participating in, or contributing to, activity intending to, or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation or any of its members, to wit the murder of David Byrne, by providing access to individual motor vehicles to that criminal organisation or its members, within the State on February 5, 2016 (Alleged Or Contested)
Accused
Charges: participating in, or contributing to, activity intending to, or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation or any of its members, to wit the murder of David Byrne, by providing access to individual motor vehicles to that criminal organisation or its members, within the State on February 5, 2016 (Alleged Or Contested)
Accused
Charges: the murder of David Byrne, contrary to Common Law, at the hotel on the Swords Road, Whitehall, Dublin 9, on February 5, 2016; supplying logistical support to a six-man team suspected of carrying out the murder on February 5, 2016; participating in or contributing to activity intending to or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation or any of its members, to wit the murder of David Byrne, by providing access to individual motor vehicles to that criminal organisation or its members, within the State on February 5, 2016; participating in, or contributing to, activity intending to, or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation or any of its members, to wit the murder of David Byrne, by providing access to individual motor vehicles to that criminal organisation or its members, within the State on February 5, 2016 (Alleged Or Contested)
Accused
Charges: supplying logistical support to a six-man team suspected of carrying out the murder on February 5, 2016; participating in or contributing to activity intending to or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation or any of its members, to wit the murder of David Byrne, by providing access to individual motor vehicles to that criminal organisation or its members, within the State on February 5, 2016; participating in, or contributing to, activity intending to, or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation or any of its members, to wit the murder of David Byrne, by providing access to individual motor vehicles to that criminal organisation or its members, within the State on February 5, 2016 (Alleged Or Contested)
Accused
Charges: the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel will go on trial alongside three co-accused at the Special Criminal Court next year; the murder of David Byrne, contrary to Common Law, at the hotel on the Swords Road, Whitehall, Dublin 9, on February 5, 2016; supplying logistical support to a six-man team suspected of carrying out the murder on February 5, 2016; participating in or contributing to activity intending to or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation or any of its members, to wit the murder of David Byrne, by providing access to individual motor vehicles to that criminal organisation or its members, within the State on February 5, 2016; participating in, or contributing to, activity intending to, or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation or any of its members, to wit the murder of David Byrne, by providing access to individual motor vehicles to that criminal organisation or its members, within the State on February 5, 2016 (Alleged Or Contested)
Places mentioned
- Special Criminal Court
- Swords Road
- Navan Road
- Navan
- Navan Road
- Dublin
- Portmarnock
Topics
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