Courts / Dublin / Report

Bullet cases from Regency murder scene were fired by recovered AKs, trial hears

Summary

The Special Criminal Court heard ballistics evidence in the ongoing trial of Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, who denies the murder of David Byrne. Detective Garda David O'Leary testified that seven cartridge cases recovered from the Regency Hotel scene were discharged from three AK-47 variants seized from Shane Rowan in March 2016. Rowan was previously sentenced to seven and a half years for possession of the weapons and a concurrent four years for IRA membership. The court also examined CCTV footage regarding the movements of a taxi and a black BMW X5. The prosecution case alleges that co-accused Jason Bonney and Paul Murphy, both of whom have pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016, facilitated the escape of the assailants. Bonney is specifically alleged to have driven the BMW X5. Defence counsel for Bonney indicated that the identification evidence would be challenged as a legal issue. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Grainne Malone.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Bullet cases from Regency murder scene were fired by recovered AKs, trial hears. Charges or matters: participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• February 5, 2016 Incident
• February 5 Hearing Or Sentence
• March 10 Incident
• March 9, 2016 Incident
• July 2016 Incident
• March 9 2016 Incident
• 2022-10-24 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report