Courts / Dublin / Report

'Monk' to seek pre-trial hearing along with application to dismiss Regency murder charge

Date
2022-06-20

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Swords

County
Dublin

Summary

The Special Criminal Court has listed a Section 4E application for July 8 regarding Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, who is accused of the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC stated that Mr Hutch is seeking a pre-trial hearing and an application to dismiss the charge due to insufficient evidence. The court must first determine its jurisdiction under Section 4E of the Criminal Procedure Act 1967. Additionally, a preliminary trial hearing application under Section 6 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2021 is being pursued, with Jonathan Dowdall's counsel joining this application. Jonathan Dowdall is also accused of the murder of Mr Byrne. His father, Patrick Dowdall, is accused of facilitating the murder by making a hotel room available to a criminal organisation. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney are both accused of facilitating the commission of a serious offence by providing access to motor vehicles to the organisation. All five accused are due to stand trial on October 3, with the trial expected to last 12 weeks. The matter was adjourned to allow for these preliminary applications, and the court will rule on the jurisdiction issue shortly after the July 8 hearing. Information regarding the applications is subject to publication restrictions.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Monk' to seek pre-trial hearing along with application to dismiss Regency murder charge. Charges or matters: murder of David Byrne; participating in or contributing to activity intending to or being reckless as to whether his actions could facilitate the murder of David Byrne; 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. Procedural stage: trial

When:

July 8 Hearing Or Sentence
April 2021 Incident
February 4, 2016 Other
February 5, 2016 Incident
October 3 Hearing Or Sentence
February 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
September 14 Hearing Or Sentence
August 12, 2021 Incident
July 5 Hearing Or Sentence
2022-06-20 Publication

Case subjects

Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch

Accused

Charges: murder of David Byrne (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Section 4E application listed for July 8

Jason Bonney

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 (Alleged Or Contested)

Jonathan Dowdall

Accused

Charges: murder of David Byrne (Alleged Or Contested)

Patrick Dowdall

Accused

Charges: participating in or contributing to activity intending to or being reckless as to whether his actions could facilitate the murder of David Byrne (Alleged Or Contested)

Paul Murphy

Accused