Courts / Dublin / Report

Records of tracking device placed on Dowdall's jeep 'destroyed', Regency murder trial hears

Date
2022-11-15
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

The Special Criminal Court heard that all records from a tracking device placed on former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall's vehicle by gardai were destroyed before the Regency Hotel murder trial began. The court was informed that the tracking device was deployed on Dowdall's Toyota Land Cruiser in February 2016 as part of the investigation into the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne. The authorisation for the deployment of the tracker was granted by retired Detective Superintendent William Johnston on February 17, 2016, for a period of two months. However, the records of the tracker and logger devices were reportedly destroyed, raising concerns about the destruction of evidence. Jonathan Dowdall has been jailed by the Special Criminal Court for four years for facilitating the Hutch gang in the murder of David Byrne. Gerard Hutch, who is accused of the murder, has pleaded guilty and received the same sentence. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney have pleaded not guilty and the matter remains ongoing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Records of tracking device placed on Dowdall's jeep 'destroyed', Regency murder trial hears. Charges or matters: Mr Byrne's murder. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

Gerard Hutch

Co Accused

Charges: Mr Byrne's murder (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: 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.

Jason Bonney

Defendant

Plea: Not guilty

Jonathan Dowdall

Accused

Charges: Mr Byrne's murder (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: 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.

Paul Murphy

Defendant

Plea: Not guilty

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Special Criminal Court
  • The Special Criminal Court
Residence
Journey Or Route
Secondary Mention
Address Area
  • Navan Road
Incident

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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