Courts / Dublin / Report

Dowdall can give evidence against former co-accused Hutch, judges rule

Date
2022-12-08

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

The Special Criminal Court trial of Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, accused of the murder of David Byrne, has been adjourned until tomorrow for further information regarding Jonathan Dowdall's witness protection status. Presiding judge Ms Justice Tara Burns ruled that Dowdall's evidence is admissible, rejecting defence objections that his guilty plea to the lesser charge of facilitating the murder constituted an unfair incentive. Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to facilitating the Hutch gang in the 2016 Regency Hotel attack, was sentenced to four years in prison. The court noted that the prosecution had not yet confirmed whether Dowdall had been accepted into the Witness Protection Programme, a matter Ms Justice Burns described as "astonishing" given the ongoing trial. She directed the prosecution to resolve this issue promptly, expressing dissatisfaction with the delay. Meanwhile, co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who are alleged to have participated in or contributed to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles, have pleaded not guilty. The trial will resume tomorrow to address the witness protection query before Dowdall is expected to give evidence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dowdall can give evidence against former co-accused Hutch, judges rule. 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 Other
2022-12-08 Publication

Case subjects

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

Defendant

Charges: 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 to four years by the non-jury court for the lesser offence of facilitating the murder and is being assessed for the Witness Protection Programme when he gets out of prison. Dowdall has been jailed by the Special Criminal Court for four years for facilitating the Hutch gang in the notorious murder of Mr Byrne.; The trial has been adjourned until tomorrow for further information on Dowdall's witness protection status.

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