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'Far from peripheral' - Regency getaway drivers fail to have sentences reduced
Summary
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeals against the sentences of Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who were convicted of facilitating the Hutch Criminal Organisation in the murder of David Byrne. Both men, who pleaded not guilty, acted as getaway drivers during the 2016 Regency Hotel attack. Mr Justice John Edwards found their roles "far from peripheral" and upheld the Special Criminal Court's 10-year headline sentences. Bonney, who has no previous convictions, received an 18-month mitigation discount, resulting in an effective sentence of eight-and-a-half years. Murphy, who has 67 previous convictions, received a one-year discount, resulting in a nine-year sentence. The judge rejected arguments that their culpability was lower than that of Jonathan Dowdall, who was sentenced to four years for facilitating the gang by providing a room. Dowdall had originally faced murder charges but admitted to the lesser offence. The Court of Appeal noted that the primary sentencing rationales were retribution and deterrence, given the high level of criminality and the threat posed by the Hutch organisation to the rule of law.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Far from peripheral' - Regency getaway drivers fail to have sentences reduced. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- February 5, 2016 Other
- October 17, 2022 Incident
- 2026-07-03 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Outcome: Dowdall – who facilitated the murder of David Byrne – received a headline sentence of eight years. 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: Paul Murphy (L) and Jason Bonney (R) prior to their convictions for acting as getaway drivers following fatal gun attack Pic: Collins) By Fiona Magennis Two getaway drivers in the Regency Hotel attack, during which Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne was murdered, have failed to have their prison sentences reduced, with the Court of Appeal finding their roles in the events were "far from peripheral". In dismissing both men's appeals against their respective sentences today, Mr Justice John Edwards said the assistance provided by Bonney and Murphy in facilitating those "more centrally involved" in the Regency attack was "meaningful" and "far from peripheral". "The Hutch criminal organisation operates at a high level of criminality, is notoriously involved in a long running feud with the rival Kinahan criminal organisation which has claimed many lives, and its activities challenge and represent a very serious threat to the rule of law and rules-based social order in this country," he said.
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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