Gerard Hutch murder trial appeal dismissed by Supreme Court

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Gerard Hutch’s appeal against trial before the non-jury Special Criminal Court for the murder of David Byrne was dismissed unanimously by the Supreme Court, as reported on 29 July 2022. The decision cleared the way for the trial to proceed. Hutch is charged with murdering Byrne at Dublin’s Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016 and denies the charge. His lawyers argued that the Special Criminal Court had become a permanent court, although the legislation provided for a temporary court. The Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s findings. The decision was given by Chief Justice Donal O'Donnell and Justices Peter Charleton, Iseult O'Malley, Gerard Hogan and Brian Murray.