Courts / Dublin / Report

Surveillance garda saw 'the Monk' leave Dowdall's home, trial hears

Summary

A surveillance garda testified in the Special Criminal Court that he saw Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, accused of the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne, riding a motorcycle out of former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall's home on February 12, 2016. Gerard Hutch (59), last of The Paddocks, Clontarf, Dublin 3, denies the murder of Mr Byrne (33) during a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016. Jonathan Dowdall (44), a married father of four with an address at Navan Road, Cabra, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty in advance of the trial to a lesser charge of facilitating the Hutch gang by making a hotel room available ahead of the murder. Jonathan Dowdall has been jailed by the Special Criminal Court for four years for facilitating the Hutch gang in the notorious murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne. The former Dublin councillor is currently being assessed for the Witness Protection Program after agreeing to testify against former co-accused Gerard Hutch, who is charged with Mr Byrne's murder. The Special Criminal Court has already viewed CCTV footage of what the State says is Gerard Hutch making two separate journeys to Northern Ireland with Dowdall on February 20 and March 7, 2016. A garda known as Member BZ testified that he observed Jonathan Dowdall's grey Toyota Land Cruiser parked opposite Forest Park in Killygordon in Co Donegal at 11am on February 20 2016 and that it was beside a silver Renault Megane Scenic. The Megane left the area at 2.35pm with two males in the vehicle. Another officer called Member BU told Ms Murphy that at 3.51pm on March 9 2016, Shane Rowan was observed carrying a long cardboard box as he walked down the escalator of Clarehall Shopping Centre before entering Carphone Warehouse. In July 2016, Rowan from Forest Park, Killygordan, in County Donegal was jailed for seven and a half years for possession of assault rifles and ammunition. He was also sentenced to a concurrent sentence of four years in prison for IRA membership, backdated to March 9 2016. Evidence has also been given that bullet cases found at the Regency Hotel murder scene were fired by the three AK-47 assault rifles. Gerard Hutch's two co-accused – Paul Murphy (59), of Cherry Avenue, Swords, Co Dublin and Jason Bonney (50), of Drumnigh Wood, Portmarnock, Dublin 13 have pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. The evidence of the NSU members continues tomorrow before Ms Justice Tara Burns, presiding, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Grainne Malone.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Surveillance garda saw 'the Monk' leave Dowdall's home, trial hears. Charges or matters: Mr Byrne's murder; 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 Hearing Or Sentence
• February 20 Incident
• March 7, 2016 Incident
• February 12 2016 Incident
• February 20 2016 Other
• February 20, 2016 Other
• March 7 Incident
• March 7 2016 Other
• March 9 2016 Incident
• March 9, 2016 Incident
• July 2016 Incident
• March 9 Incident
• 2022-11-01 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

• Judge rejects Gill's arguments against extradition for Robbie Lawlor murder
• Sligo man Barry Young wanted in NI for gangland murder of Robbie Lawlor
• Court hears of 'thuggish' attack on bus passenger who objected to social distancing breaches
• Robbie Lawlor murder accused argues UK trial would breach his rights
• Gill has CAB liability of €860k, bail application told
• Gill's lawyers served with documents covering 'every interaction' with State, court hears

Read the original CNI report