Courts / Dublin / Report

Dowdall's appeal put back until judgement returned in Hutch trial

Date
2023-02-02
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Swords
County
Dublin

Summary

Jonathan Dowdall's appeal against his four-year prison sentence for facilitating the murder of David Byrne has been adjourned until after judgment is returned in the trial of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch. At a brief hearing at the Court of Appeal, counsel Gemma McLoughlin-Burke BL applied to postpone the appeal to await the outcome of the Hutch trial, where Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor, gave State evidence. The court sent the matter to the next list to fix dates on March 27. Dowdall, who did not attend, had previously pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to making a room available to the Hutch gang at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. He was originally charged with murder, but the State dropped that charge after he admitted to the lesser facilitation role. In October, the Special Criminal Court sentenced him to four years' imprisonment. The presiding judge noted Dowdall was complicit in the crime despite claiming ignorance of the room's purpose. Separately, Patrick Dowdall was jailed for two years for his own facilitation role in the same incident. The source notes that Patrick Dowdall's name was used to book Room 2104 one day before the murder. Jonathan Dowdall's appeal remains pending, not concluded, as it awaits the Hutch trial judgment.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dowdall's appeal put back until judgement returned in Hutch trial. Charges or matters: making a room available to the Hutch gang at the Regency Hotel, Swords Road, north Dublin, where the murder of Byrne (34) occurred in February 2016. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Case subjects

Jonathan Dowdall

Appellant

Charges: making a room available to the Hutch gang at the Regency Hotel, Swords Road, north Dublin, where the murder of Byrne (34) occurred in February 2016 (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Last October, Dowdall (44) of Navan Road, Cabra, Dublin 7, was sentenced before the three-judge court to four years' imprisonment after he pleaded guilty on September 9 last, to the facilitation offence. At the brief hearing at the Court of Appeal this morning, Gemma McLoughlin-Burke BL, for Dowdall, who did not attend, applied to have the appeal against his sentence adjourned to await the outcome of the trial of Mr Hutch.; Photo: Collins) Former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall, who took to the stand for eight days as State's evidence in the trial of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch, has had his appeal against his jail term for facilitating the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne put back until after judgement in Mr Hutch's trial.

Patrick Dowdall

Convicted Person

Outcome: Patrick Dowdall was jailed for two years for his facilitation role in the Regency murder by the Special Criminal Court in October. The sentence hearing was told that Room 2104 in the Regency Hotel was booked in the name of Patrick Dowdall on February 4, 2016, one day before Mr Byrne's murder.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Special Criminal Court
  • Court of Appeal
Incident
Residence
Secondary Mention

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

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