Mary McDonnell's withholding charge dropped during Hutch murder case

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

Mary McDonnell was originally charged with withholding information, but the charge was dropped and she was given immunity from prosecution. The proceedings were reported on 25 June 2018.

The Special Criminal Court heard that McDonnell made a voluntary statement to gardaí at her Avondale House flat on 25 May 2016, the day after Gareth Hutch was fatally shot. The statement implicated the three accused in his murder.

Thomas Fox, Regina Keogh and a third accused identified in the report as Mr Keogh pleaded not guilty to murdering Hutch. Fox also denied unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9mm handgun at the same place on 23 May 2016.

Detective Garda Kevin Keys said McDonnell did not grasp the seriousness of her situation when she made the statement and that it provided information that substantially advanced the investigation. He said no threats or promises were made to her.

Under cross-examination, Sean Guerin SC, defending Mr Keogh, suggested that interviews on 26 May were a deliberate effort to frighten McDonnell into thinking she could never go home and that Mr Keogh would kill her if she did. Keys disagreed. He also denied suggesting that gardaí could not help her unless she gave them what they wanted.

The trial was continuing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Michael Walsh.