Courts / Dublin / Report

Dowdall denies he is "master manipulator"

Date
2022-12-13

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Dublin City

County
Dublin

Summary

In the ongoing appeal proceedings concerning the murder of David Byrne, ex-Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall, a State's witness who pleaded guilty to facilitating the killing, denied being a "master manipulator" during cross-examination. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC alleged Dowdall told "two big lies" regarding Gerard Hutch's alleged confession and the collection of hotel keys. Dowdall, who admitted to falsely imprisoning and threatening Alexander Hurley, stated he deeply regretted torturing Hurley. He clarified that his father, Patrick Dowdall, was sentenced to eight years for the same offences, later reduced to four years on appeal, while Jonathan was re-sentenced to seven years and 11 months. The court heard that Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who pleaded not guilty to charges of participating in or contributing to Byrne's murder by providing access to motor vehicles, remain defendants in the case. Dowdall denied involvement in moving AK-47s or bomb-making, describing such claims as lies or bravado. He asserted that the feud between the Hutch and Kinahan families stemmed from an alleged attempt by the Hutch brothers to steal money from Daniel Kinahan, not from the Kinahans initiating violence. The matter remains at the appeal stage, with no finalisation recorded.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dowdall denies he is "master manipulator". Charges or matters: the murder of Mr Byrne five years into his sentence for false imprisonment, threatening to kill and causing serious harm as he "didn't do anything". "I knew I couldn't defend myself if I went to court, I couldn't explain the circumstances to the room, I couldn't put up any defence up whatsoever," he said; participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

February 5, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
February 4 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
March 2016 Incident
June 2017 Other
January 15, 2015 Other
March 7 2016 Other
February 12, 2016 Other
February 20, 2016 Incident
March 9, 2016 Incident
July 2016 Incident
March 9 2016 Incident
February 20 Incident
February 4, 2016 Incident
March 7, 2016 Incident
May 2014 Incident
October 3 Incident
January 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
2022-12-13 Publication

Why: He added that Patrick was shot by Kinahan "because he was blamed for what happened to that boxer". 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

Appellant

Charges: the murder of Mr Byrne five years into his sentence for false imprisonment, threatening to kill and causing serious harm as he "didn't do anything". "I knew I couldn't defend myself if I went to court, I couldn't explain the circumstances to the room, I couldn't put up any defence up whatsoever," he said (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Patrick Dowdall eight years imprisonment after pleading guilty to falsely imprisoning Alexander Hurley and threatening to kill him at Jonathan's family home on January 15, 2015. Dowdall was later re-sentenced to 7 years and 11 months and Patrick Dowdall to four years imprisonment after successful appeals.

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