Verdicts Due In Regency Murder Trial

Monday, 17 April 2023 09:33

By Caoimhe Harney

Gerard Hutch, from Clontarf in Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Byrne at the Regency hotel in 2016

Verdicts will be delivered later this morning in the Regency Hotel murder trial.

Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch has been waiting almost twelve weeks to find out if the judges of the Special Criminal Court believe he murdered David Byrne.

Despite his attempts to have his trial heard before a jury, Gerry Hutch was tried before three judges of the non-jury Special Criminal Court.

It is the State’s case that he was one of two men who shot David Byrne with AK47s after storming a boxing event at the Regency Hotel in Dublin in February 2016.

Jonathan Dowdall, who was also due to stand trial for murder before the charge against him was dropped, testified against Mr Hutch, claiming he told him he was one of the gunmen during an alleged confession a few days after the attack.

A lot hinges on whether the judges believed Dowdall’s evidence. Mr Hutch’s barrister urged them not to, accusing him of being a self-confessed liar with a serious criminal record and a motive for giving evidence against his client.

Judgements will also be delivered in relation to two other men accused of assisting the gang by helping them make good their escape.

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