Courts / Dublin / Report

Neither Monk nor Kinahans 'started the shooting' in feud, Dowdall tells Regency trial

Date
2022-12-13

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

The Special Criminal Court heard evidence from Jonathan Dowdall, a State's witness in the trial of Gerard Hutch, who denies the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to facilitating the offence by providing a hotel room, testified that neither the Kinahan family nor Hutch initiated the shooting. He stated he believed innocent people were targeted and that Hutch lied to him during a covertly recorded conversation regarding the identities of the assailants. The court examined audio recordings where Hutch allegedly referred to disposing of three AK-47 rifles to republicans in Northern Ireland. Dowdall also identified a reference to Buckingham Village, where a van used in the attack was allegedly stored. His father, Patrick Dowdall (65), was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for the same facilitation charge. Co-accused Paul Murphy (61) and Jason Bonney (50) have pleaded not guilty to charges of participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles. The trial continues before Justice Tara Burns and two other judges.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Neither Monk nor Kinahans 'started the shooting' in feud, Dowdall tells Regency trial. Charges or matters: participating in or contributing to activity intending to or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation or any of its members, to wit the murder of David Byrne, by making a room available at the Regency Hotel, Drumcondra, Dublin 9 for that criminal organisation or its members, within the State on February 4, 2016; participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

March 7, 2016 Incident
February 5, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
May 2014 Incident
October 3 Incident
January 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
February 4, 2016 Incident
February 20 Incident
2022-12-13 Publication

Why: The witness continued: "I was told the van that was used was parked at Buckingham Village and he [Patsy] got rid of the CCTV because of that reason. CNI source report

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

Patrick Dowdall

Convicted Person

Charges: participating in or contributing to activity intending to or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation or any of its members, to wit the murder of David Byrne, by making a room available at the Regency Hotel, Drumcondra, Dublin 9 for that criminal organisation or its members, within the State on February 4, 2016; participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Patrick Dowdall (65) was jailed for two years before the Regency trial started after he also admitted his part in booking the hotel room for the raiders.

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