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Regency getaway drivers say prison sentences were too high
Summary
Jason Bonney and Paul Murphy, convicted of facilitating the murder of David Byrne during the 2016 Regency Hotel attack, are appealing their prison sentences at the Court of Appeal. Both men, who pleaded not guilty and were convicted by the Special Criminal Court, argued their sentences were excessive. Bonney, sentenced to eight-and-a-half years, and Murphy, jailed for nine years, had their bids to overturn convictions dismissed in November. Counsel for Bonney highlighted his unblemished record and argued his involvement was less significant than that of Jonathan Dowdall, who received a headline sentence of eight years for facilitating the Hutch gang. Dowdall was later sentenced to four years imprisonment in October 2022. Counsel for Murphy contended his role was peripheral and he lacked knowledge of the attack's seriousness. The State argued the appellants were integral to a serious criminal endeavour. Appeal judge Mr Justice John Edwards noted that prosocial contributions offer only modest mitigation and that the gravity of the offense mandated significant custody. He stated the court would deliver its judgment on July 3. The matter remains at the appeal stage, with the final decision pending.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Regency getaway drivers say prison sentences were too high. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- February 5, 2016 Other
- Friday, July 3 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 17, 2022 Incident
- 2026-06-29 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Photo: Collins) Two getaway drivers in the Regency Hotel attack, during which Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne was murdered, have argued that the prison sentences imposed on them were too high. Bids by both men to overturn their convictions were dismissed by the Court of Appeal in November, with their lawyers informing the court that the pair would appeal their respective sentences.
Defendant
Outcome: Jonathan Dowdall – who facilitated the murder of David Byrne – received a headline sentence of eight years, but his "level of immersion" was at a far deeper level than Bonney's and was over a more extended period of time. On October 17, 2022, Jonathan Dowdall was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to four years imprisonment for facilitating the Hutch gang in the murder of Byrne.
Appellant
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Photo: Collins) Two getaway drivers in the Regency Hotel attack, during which Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne was murdered, have argued that the prison sentences imposed on them were too high. Mark Lynam SC, representing Murphy, said that the sentence imposed on his client was too high, given Murphy's level of involvement and engagement in the offence, including his lack of knowledge.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Special Criminal Court
- The Special Criminal Court
- Swords Road
- Cherry Avenue
- Swords
- Dublin
- Portmarnock
- Navan
- Navan Road
Topics
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