Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 5672Murder · Co. Dublin · 5 Feb 2016

DPP declines to charge Patsy Hutch over 2016 Regency Hotel murder of David Byrne

David Byrne, a Kinahan associate, was shot dead at the Regency Hotel in Dublin during a boxing weigh-in on 5 February 2016. Patrick Hutch's Special Criminal Court trial collapsed in 2019 and the murder charge against him was dropped. Jonathan Dowdall pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder in 2022, and Gerry Hutch was acquitted by the Special Criminal Court in April 2023. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney were each found guilty of contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles and were jailed. On 14 June 2024 the DPP declined to charge Patsy Hutch, gardaí sent the file on him, and reports say no further charges are directed unless new evidence emerges.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
David Byrne, a Kinahan associate, was shot dead.
Where
The shooting took place at the Regency Hotel in Dublin during a boxing weigh-in.
When
The killing took place on 5 February 2016.
Cause
Gardaí described the attack as part of the Hutch Organised Crime Group's daylight attack on the hotel.
Investigation
  • Gardaí sent the DPP a file on Patsy Hutch.
  • Sources said the DPP has directed no more charges, and no more prosecutions will follow unless new evidence emerges.
Charges
The DPP declined to charge Patsy Hutch over the murder of David Byrne.
In court
  • Gerry Hutch was acquitted of the charge by the Special Criminal Court in April 2023.
  • Patrick Hutch's Special Criminal Court trial collapsed in 2019, and the murder charge against him was dropped.
  • Jonathan Dowdall pleaded guilty in 2022 to facilitating the murder.
  • Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney were each found guilty of participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles.
  • The presiding judge said a reasonable possibility arose that Patsy Hutch planned the Regency attack and that he was centrally involved in moving three AK47 rifles.
Sentence
Paul Murphy was jailed for nine years, Jason Bonney for eight and a half years, and Jonathan Dowdall for four years.
25 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereDavid Byrne was shot dead at the Regency Hotel in Dublin during a boxing weigh-in. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe killing took place at the Regency Hotel in Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe attack took place on 5 February 2016. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenDavid Byrne was shot dead on 5 February 2016. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí sent the DPP a file on Patsy Hutch, and the DPP decided not to prosecute him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí sent the DPP a file on Patsy Hutch. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThere would be no more prosecutions in the investigation unless new evidence emerged. (dublinlive.ie)
  • chargeThe DPP declined to charge Patsy Hutch over the murder of David Byrne. (dublinlive.ie)
  • chargeThe murder charge against Patrick Hutch was dropped. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtGerry Hutch was acquitted of the charge in April of last year by the Special Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJonathan Dowdall pleaded guilty in 2022 to facilitating the murder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe presiding judge said a reasonable possibility arose that the Regency was planned by Patsy Hutch. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtThe court was satisfied that Patsy Hutch was centrally involved in the movement of the three AK47 rifles. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtJonathan Dowdall pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder in 2022. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtPaul Murphy and Jason Bonney were each found guilty of participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtPatrick Hutch's Special Criminal Court trial collapsed in 2019. (dublinlive.ie)
  • sentencePaul Murphy was jailed for nine years. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • sentenceJason Bonney received an eight-and-a-half year sentence. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • sentenceJonathan Dowdall was given a four-year jail term. (dublinlive.ie)
  • sentencePatrick Dowdall was locked up for two years. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe probe into the attack is effectively over after the DPP declined to charge Patsy Hutch. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherA source said the DPP has directed no more charges. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherWithout new evidence, the case is unlikely to be progressed further. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe Special Criminal Court judge said a reasonable possibility arose that Patsy Hutch planned the Regency attack. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherPatrick Hutch's murder charge was dropped after the trial collapsed in 2019. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 14 Jun2024
    Otherdublinlive.ie, first report
    Regency attack Garda probe ends as DPP declines to charge Patsy Hutch

    Reports that the DPP has declined to charge Patsy Hutch, ending the Garda probe into the Regency Hotel attack, and summarises earlier prosecutions arising from the same killing.

    victim, David Byrne, 33, male, irish (judged from name)David Byrnesuspect, Patsy Hutch, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patsy Hutchaccused, Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gerry 'The Monk' Hutchaccused, Patrick, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrickconvicted, Jonathan Dowdall, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jonathan Dowdallconvicted, Patrick, 67, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrickconvicted, Paul Murphy, 62, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Murphyconvicted, Jason Bonney, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jason Bonney
  2. 14 Jun2024
    Otheririshmirror.ie, follow-up
    Garda probe into Regency attack ends as DPP declines to charge Patsy Hutch

    Reports that the DPP has declined to charge Patsy Hutch after a Garda file, and that no more charges are directed unless new evidence emerges. It also recaps earlier court outcomes in the case.

    victim, David Byrne, 33, irish (judged from name)David Byrnesuspect, Patsy Hutch, named, irish (judged from name)Patsy Hutchsuspect, Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch, named, irish (judged from name)Gerry 'The Monk' Hutchsuspect, irish (judged from name)convicted, Paul Murphy, 62, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Murphyconvicted, Jason Bonney, 53, named, irish (judged from name)Jason Bonneyconvicted, Jonathan Dowdall, 44, named, irish (judged from name)Jonathan Dowdall