Courts / Dublin / Report

Monk forced to carry out 'fundamental reappraisal' of Regency trial strategy, court hears

Date
2022-10-03

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin City

County
Dublin

Summary

The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, who is accused of the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC stated that the team was forced to carry out a 'fundamental reappraisal' of their strategy after being served with significant new evidence late last week. The court, presided over by Justice Tara Burns, granted a one-week adjournment, noting that the trial is unlikely to commence next Monday due to the court's full calendar. Mr. Hutch, who has been in custody since his extradition from Spain, was remanded until next Monday. He has not yet been arraigned. In related developments, the DPP indicated that a nolle prosequi could be entered against Jonathan Dowdall on the murder count, as he pleaded guilty last Wednesday to a lesser charge of facilitating the shooting. Jonathan Dowdall and his father, Patrick Dowdall, both pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder by making a room available at the hotel for a criminal organisation. Their sentencing was adjourned. Co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, charged with facilitating the offence by providing access to vehicles, were also due to stand trial but the matter was postponed to allow for further disclosure.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Monk forced to carry out 'fundamental reappraisal' of Regency trial strategy, court hears. Charges or matters: a lesser charge of facilitating the shooting at the Special Criminal Court last Wednesday; facilitating the murder of David Byrne (34) last week; 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 making a room available at the Regency Hotel, Drumcondra, Dublin 9 for that criminal organisation or its members, within the State on February 4, 2016; the murder of Kinahan gang member David Byrne at the Regency Hotel on the Swords Road, Whitehall, Dublin 9, on February 5, 2016. Procedural stage: trial

When:

February 4, 2016 Incident
February 5, 2016 Incident
February 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
September 29 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
September 14 Incident
August 12, 2021 Incident
April 2021 Incident
2022-10-03 Publication

Case subjects

Jonathan Dowdall

Defendant

Charges: a lesser charge of facilitating the shooting at the Special Criminal Court last Wednesday; facilitating the murder of David Byrne (34) last week (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Patrick Dowdall

Defendant

Charges: facilitating the murder of David Byrne (34) last week; 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 making a room available at the Regency Hotel, Drumcondra, Dublin 9 for that criminal organisation or its members, within the State on February 4, 2016; the murder of Kinahan gang member David Byrne at the Regency Hotel on the Swords Road, Whitehall, Dublin 9, on February 5, 2016 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Mr Grehan said he was not looking for the trial to be adjourned beyond a week. "The ball has been kicked into our court and we have to deal with it as best we can," said the lawyer.