Courts / Dublin / Report
'No further steps' in Regency trial in relation to disclosure of 'curious' document
Summary
The Special Criminal Court heard that no further steps will be taken regarding a 'curious' document disclosed to the defence in the Regency Hotel murder trial. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC stated the matter requires investigation, while defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC noted it must wait for another day. Gerard Hutch, 59, denies the murder of David Byrne on February 5, 2016. Co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, both pleading not guilty to facilitating the murder by providing vehicles, face a ruling tomorrow on the admissibility of CCTV footage. Murphy's defence argued the footage breached privacy rights under the Data Protection Act, while the prosecution contended it was manifestly relevant and admissible. The court also heard evidence from Inspector Padraig Boyce regarding a coordinated operation that seized AK-47 rifles from Shane Rowan and searched the home of Jonathan Dowdall. Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder by making a hotel room available, was sentenced to four years imprisonment. His father, Patrick Dowdall, also pleaded guilty to the same facilitation charge and was jailed for two years. Both men had previously been sentenced for the false imprisonment of Alexander Hurley, with sentences later reduced on appeal. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'No further steps' in Regency trial in relation to disclosure of 'curious' document. Charges or matters: participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016; facilitating Mr Byrne's murder, was on the stand for eight days in December and cross-examined for seven of those by Mr Hutch's defence counsel Mr Grehan before the Christmas break; 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:
- February 5, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 9, 2016 Incident
- March 4, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 2016 Incident
- March 9 2016 Incident
- March 9 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 15, 2015 Other
- May 2014 Incident
- October 3 Incident
- February 4, 2016 Incident
- February 4 Other
- February 5 Hearing Or Sentence
- Christmas Other
- 2023-01-12 Publication
Why: In reply, Mr Gillane said this argument had not been accepted by the Special Criminal Court, the Central Criminal Court or the Circuit Court and that there was good reason for this. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016; facilitating Mr Byrne's murder, was on the stand for eight days in December and cross-examined for seven of those by Mr Hutch's defence counsel Mr Grehan before the Christmas break; 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; facilitating Mr Byrne's murder, was on the stand for eight days in December and cross-examined for seven of those by Mr Hutch's defence counsel Mr Grehan before the Christmas break; 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
Defendant
Charges: facilitating Mr Byrne's murder, was on the stand for eight days in December and cross-examined for seven of those by Mr Hutch's defence counsel Mr Grehan before the Christmas break; 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: In June 2017, Dowdall was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment and his father Patrick Dowdall eight years imprisonment after pleading guilty to falsely imprisoning Mr 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.
Accused
Charges: participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016; facilitating Mr Byrne's murder, was on the stand for eight days in December and cross-examined for seven of those by Mr Hutch's defence counsel Mr Grehan before the Christmas break; 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
- The Special Criminal Court
- Central Criminal Court
- Supreme Court
- Dublin
- Cherry Avenue
- Swords
- Portmarnock
- Forest Park
- Navan
- Navan Road
- Crumlin
- Navan
- Navan Road
- Portmarnock
- Newbrook Road
- Donaghmede
- Dowdall's house
- Trinity Credit Union
Topics
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request