Courts / Dublin / Report
'Curious development' in Hutch trial
Summary
The Special Criminal Court heard a "curious development" in the ongoing trial of Gerard Hutch, who denies murdering David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC apologized for a delay caused by a newly disclosed document and the unavailability of a garda witness, estimating the trial would conclude in two weeks. Co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who pleaded not guilty to facilitating the murder by providing vehicles, remain on trial. Jonathan Dowdall, a former State's witness who pleaded guilty to facilitating the offence by booking the hotel room, was previously jailed for four years. His father, Patrick Dowdall, was jailed for two years for the same facilitation charge. The court heard evidence regarding CCTV footage harvesting, with the trial set to continue before Ms Justice Tara Burns and colleagues. The prosecution alleges Kevin Murray, who died in 2017, was the shooter, while Dowdall testified that Hutch admitted to the killing. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC challenged Dowdall's credibility, citing phone data inconsistencies regarding alleged meetings.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Curious development' in Hutch trial. Charges or matters: participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016; 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. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 21 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 2016 Incident
- February 5, 2016 Incident
- December 12 Incident
- February 8 2016 Incident
- December 13 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 4, 2016 Incident
- February 4 Other
- February 8, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- Monday February 8, 2016 Incident
- Sunday February 7 Incident
- Monday February 8 Incident
- May 2014 Incident
- October 3 Incident
- February 5 Hearing Or Sentence
- Christmas Other
- 2023-01-11 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016; 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 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Accused
Charges: participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016; 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 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
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 (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.
Accused
Charges: participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016; 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 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
- Special Criminal Court
- Dublin
- Cherry Avenue
- Swords
- Portmarnock
- Navan
- Navan Road
- Crumlin
- Richmond Road
Topics
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