Courts / Dublin / Report

Dowdall had DPP 'over a barrel', Hutch lawyers say

Date
2022-12-07

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

The trial of Gerard Hutch, Jonathan Dowdall, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney in relation to the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016 has reached the sentence stage. Jonathan Dowdall has been jailed by the Special Criminal Court for four years for facilitating the Hutch gang in the murder of Mr Byrne. Gerard Hutch has pleaded guilty to charges of Mr Byrne's murder and participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney have both pleaded not guilty to the charge of participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles on the same date. The matter is ongoing, with no finalisation of the cases for Murphy and Bonney. The court is currently considering the admissibility of evidence provided by Dowdall, who has turned State's witness and is expected to give evidence implicating Hutch in the murder. The trial is part of a voir dire to determine the admissibility of this evidence. The case is being heard by three judges, with the defence challenging the admissibility of Dowdall's evidence due to concerns over the circumstances surrounding the dropping of the murder charge against him and the potential quid pro quo arrangement with the DPP.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dowdall had DPP 'over a barrel', Hutch lawyers say. 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:

September 2 Incident
August 1 Hearing Or Sentence
February 5, 2016 Other
September 12 Other
May 18 2022 Other
May 18 Other
March 7, 2016 Other
Christmas Other
2022-12-07 Publication

Case subjects

Gerard Hutch

Co Accused

Charges: Mr Byrne's murder; participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016 (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

Charges: participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Jonathan Dowdall

Accused

Charges: Mr Byrne's murder; participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Dowdall has already been sentenced by the non-jury court for the lesser offence of facilitating the murder. Dowdall has been jailed by the Special Criminal Court for four years for facilitating the Hutch gang in the notorious murder of Mr Byrne.

Paul Murphy

Defendant

Charges: participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty