Courts / Dublin / Report

Dowdall tells Regency trial he 'didn't know there was this big Hutch criminal organisation'

Date
2022-12-15

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

The Special Criminal Court trial of Gerard Hutch, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney for the murder of David Byrne continues before Justice Tara Burns. Hutch, 59, and co-accused Murphy, 61, and Bonney, 50, have pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. State's witness Jonathan Dowdall, a former Dublin city councillor, testified that he did not know of the "Hutch criminal organisation" and was reckless in helping book a Regency Hotel room for a raider. Dowdall previously pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder by making the room available on February 4, 2016, and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment. A nolle prosequi was entered on his murder charge following that sentence. His father, Patrick Dowdall, 65, was jailed for two years for the same facilitation offence. Dowdall admitted he was reckless for not asking who the room was for, despite driving his father to the hotel. The trial heard that Kevin Murray used the room the night before the attack. The court is currently hearing cross-examination regarding Dowdall's knowledge and the booking process.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dowdall tells Regency trial he 'didn't know there was this big Hutch criminal organisation'. Charges or matters: doing on September 28 and he replied: "For facilitation of the murder of David Byrne"; 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; an offence with those ingredients and put it to him that he must have had knowledge or was reckless. "I was reckless in booking the room without asking who that room was for and not asking the proper questions," he said; the offence he was ultimately charged with by t

When:

April 27 2021 Incident
October 3 Incident
February 4 Incident
February 5 Hearing Or Sentence
February 5, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
September 28 Hearing Or Sentence
February 4, 2016 Incident
January 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
2022-12-15 Publication

Why: In summary, Dowdall said his "bottom position" was that he did not know the room was going to be used for any unlawful purpose and that he had pleaded guilty to the offence he was ultimately charged with by the DPP and had done that because he was reckless. CNI source report

Case subjects

Gerard Hutch

Defendant

Charges: doing on September 28 and he replied: "For facilitation of the murder of David Byrne"; 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; an offence with those ingredients and put it to him that he must have had knowledge or was reckless. "I was reckless in booking the room without asking who that room was for and not asking the proper questions," he said; the offence he was ultimately charged with by the DPP and had done that because he was reckless (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Jason Bonney

Defendant

Plea: Not guilty

Jonathan Dowdall

Accused

Outcome: Following Dowdall's sentence on October 3, a nolle prosequi – a decision not to proceed – was entered on the murder charge against the former Dublin city councillor. Dowdall's father 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.

Patrick Dowdall

Defendant

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; an offence with those ingredients and put it to him that he must have had knowledge or was reckless. "I was reckless in booking the room without asking who that room was for and not asking the proper questions," he said; the offence he was ultimately charged with by the DPP and had done that because he was reckless (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Asked if he thought the evidence was "soft-pedalled" at his sentence hearing, Dowdall said he didn't. "Your position is that you had no knowledge whatsoever about that room and you had no involvement in the booking," asked Mr Grehan. "No I had no knowledge," he replied. Dowdall's father 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

Plea: Not guilty