Courts / Dublin / Report

Trial of Regency Hotel getaway drivers 'unfair', appeal court told

Date
2024-10-08

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

The Court of Appeal heard submissions on 8 October concerning the convictions of Jason Bonney and Paul Murphy, who were found guilty at the Special Criminal Court in 2022 of facilitating a murder at the Regency Hotel, Whitehall, Dublin on 5 February 2016. Their barristers argued the trial was unfair and that judges made conclusions unsupported by evidence, including claims that one gunman travelled in Murphy's Toyota Avensis and that the vehicle was later part of a getaway convoy from St Vincent's GAA ground. They contended insufficient evidence existed to prove the men knew of a criminal organisation or that they were facilitating serious crime. The DPP's counsel countered that identifications could be made by CCTV registration details and that the men's knowledge could be inferred from their actions in relation to the meticulously planned offence. Issues regarding un-cautioned interviews and vehicle searches were also raised. The three-judge court reserved judgement. Murphy, aged 62 of Swords, received nine years imprisonment; Bonney, aged 53 of Portmarnock, received eight and a half years.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Trial of Regency Hotel getaway drivers 'unfair', appeal court told. Charges or matters: facilitating the Hutch criminal organisation in carrying out the murder. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

February 5, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
2024-10-08 Publication

Why: Counsel further argued that interviews gardai conducted with his client prior to his arrest should have been ruled inadmissible because gardai had failed to caution him or to tell him that he was entitled to a solicitor. CNI source report