Mary McDonnell’s charge withdrawn and immunity granted, murder trial hears

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

A withholding information charge against prosecution witness Mary McDonnell was withdrawn and she was granted immunity from prosecution, the Special Criminal Court heard. The proceedings were reported on 27 July 2018.

The trial concerned the murder of Gareth Hutch, who was shot dead outside Avondale House flats in Dublin on 24 May 2016. Regina Keogh, Jonathan Keogh and Thomas Fox pleaded not guilty to his murder. Fox also denied unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9mm handgun at the same place on 23 May 2016.

In his closing speech on 27 July, Patrick Gageby SC, for Regina Keogh, described McDonnell as a complicit and willing participant who had downplayed her role. He argued it would be dangerous to convict his client on McDonnell’s evidence.

Gageby said McDonnell had maintained she was an unwilling participant and believed she had done nothing wrong. McDonnell gave evidence that her front door nearly came in on top of her when she answered it to Jonathan Keogh and another man on the morning of the shooting, and that she was not allowed to move from her chair, open the curtain or make tea.

The prosecution contended that Regina Keogh encouraged McDonnell to allow Jonathan Keogh to use her flat as a base before the attack. It was also the State’s case that Regina Keogh gave McDonnell rubber gloves for the attackers; Gageby said McDonnell was more likely to have provided them.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt remanded the three accused in custody until Monday, when the court was due to hear legal submissions.