Courts / Dublin / Report

Senior Garda denies 'soft-pedalling evidence' against Dowdall

Date
2022-12-05

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in a voir dire regarding the admissibility of statements made by former Sinn Fein Councillor Jonathan Dowdall. Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to facilitating the 2016 murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, is now a State's witness. He faces co-accused Gerard Hutch, who denies the murder, alongside defendants Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, both of whom have pleaded not guilty. Retired Detective Superintendent Paul Scott testified that Dowdall's solicitor proposed conditions for his cooperation, including immunity from prosecution, which An Garda Síochána did not accept. Detective Sergeant Patrick O'Toole, who interviewed Dowdall and his wife Patricia in May 2022, denied soft-pedalling evidence. He stated that Dowdall expressed fear for his family's safety and alleged threats from the Hutch and Kinahan groups. O'Toole confirmed no discussion occurred regarding dropping the murder charge. The court is currently determining whether Dowdall's unrecorded statements, taken without a caution, are admissible. The matter remains at the procedural stage of a trial within a trial to resolve evidentiary issues before the main proceedings continue.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Senior Garda denies 'soft-pedalling evidence' against Dowdall. Charges or matters: at his sentence hearing for facilitating the Regency Hotel murder; the murder of cartel member David Byrne; the murder of Mr Byrne at that stage; murder"; facilitating the murder of Mr Byrne on September 28 this year; Mr Byrne's murder. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

February 5, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
November 22, 2021 Other
April 27 2021 Other
November 29 2021 Other
December 16 2021 Other
December 16 Incident
January 22 2022 Other
February 10 2022 Incident
July 20 Other
July 31 Other
December 2021 Other
April 2022 Other
May 17, 2002 Other
May 18 Other
July 4 Hearing Or Sentence
July 12 Hearing Or Sentence
July 11 Other
September 16, 2021 Other
September 22 Other
September 23 2022 Other
September 28 Hearing Or Sentence
March 7 Hearing Or Sentence
March 7 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
2022-12-05 Publication

Why: "You are saying it is because Patsy Hutch might be having a liaison with a woman that Patrick Dowdall might lie about his number and address? CNI source report

Case subjects

Fein Councillor Jonathan Dowdall

Accused

Charges: at his sentence hearing for facilitating the Regency Hotel murder; the murder of cartel member David Byrne; the murder of Mr Byrne at that stage; murder"; facilitating the murder of Mr Byrne on September 28 this year (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Dowdall has already been sentenced by the non-jury court for the lesser offence of facilitating the murder. The witness disagreed and said the Special Criminal Court had sentenced Dowdall in accordance with the facts.

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 Mr Byrne.

Jason Bonney

Defendant

Plea: Not guilty

Paul Murphy

Defendant

Plea: Not guilty