Sunday 1 November 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. 5009Facilitating a criminal organisation (Regency Hotel shooting) · Co. Dublin · 5 Feb 2016

Dublin getaway drivers lose conviction appeals in Regency case

David Byrne, 33, was shot dead at the Regency Hotel on the Swords Road, Whitehall, Dublin 9, on 5 February 2016. Jason Bonney and Paul Murphy were convicted at the Special Criminal Court in 2022 of facilitating the Hutch criminal organisation in carrying out the murder and were sentenced to eight-and-a-half years and nine years respectively. A third co-accused, Kevin Murray, died from motor neurone disease in 2017 before he could be brought to trial. The Court of Appeal in November 2025 rejected all 38 grounds of appeal against their convictions, finding that uncautioned garda interviews were admissible, while their appeals against sentence remain pending.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court24 Jan
    3 reports
  5. Convicted17 Apr
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • David Byrne was shot dead at the Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016.
  • A witness said Bonney was working at a house miles away shortly after the attack.
Where
The shooting took place at the Regency Hotel on the Swords Road, Whitehall, Dublin 9.
Charges
Bonney and Murphy were convicted at the Special Criminal Court of facilitating the Hutch criminal organisation in carrying out the murder.
Sentence
Murphy was jailed for nine years and Bonney for eight-and-a-half years for facilitating the shooting.
In court
The Court of Appeal rejected all 38 grounds of appeal against conviction in November 2025, finding that uncautioned garda interviews were admissible.
Other details
  • Kevin Murray, a co-accused, died from motor neurone disease in 2017 before he could be brought to trial.
  • Both men are also appealing the severity of their sentences.
  • Murphy had worked for many years as a taxi driver at the time of the 2016 attack.
29 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA witness said Bonney was working at a house miles away shortly after the attack. (extra.ie)
  • whatAt the time of the Regency attack in 2016, Murphy had worked for many years as a taxi driver. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatTwo men convicted of acting as getaway drivers for the Regency hotel gunmen are appealing their convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatTwo men have lost their appeals against conviction at the Court of Appeal. (rte.ie)
  • whereMurphy grew up in Seán McDermott Street in Dublin's north inner city until age 12. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereDavid Byrne was shot and killed at the Regency Hotel on the Swords Road, Whitehall, Dublin 9. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereDavid Byrne was shot dead at the Regency Hotel in Dublin. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe shooting of David Byrne took place on 5 February 2016. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe murder took place in February 2016. (rte.ie)
  • investigationCounsel argued that interviews gardai conducted with Murphy before his arrest should have been ruled inadmissible because he was not cautioned. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeBonney and Murphy were convicted of facilitating the Hutch criminal organisation in carrying out the murder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeBoth men were convicted at the Special Criminal Court of facilitating the Hutch criminal organisation. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe court heard that Murphy had bought a car from Eddie Hutch, also a taxi driver. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMurphy's lawyers argued there was no evidence that he foresaw a murder happening on the day of the Regency attack. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMurphy's lawyers submitted he was definitely not at the top end of the case. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtAt the Court of Appeal, counsel for Murphy argued that the lower court had engaged in overreach and made sweeping conclusions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe three-judge Court of Appeal reserved its judgment. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal rejected every one of the 38 grounds of appeal. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal found that uncautioned garda interviews with the two men were admissible. (rte.ie)
  • courtBoth men's appeals against conviction have been dismissed. (rte.ie)
  • sentencePaul Murphy was jailed for nine years for facilitating the shooting by acting as a getaway driver. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceJason Bonney received eight-and-a-half years for the same offence. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceMurphy was jailed for nine years. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceBonney was jailed for eight-and-a-half years. (rte.ie)
  • otherJason Bonney is a co-accused in the Regency Hotel case. (extra.ie)
  • otherMurphy had previous convictions for minor offences, all dealt with at District Court level. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMurphy clocked up several convictions for minor offences, including road traffic, public order and larceny. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKevin Murray, one of the suspects, died from motor neurone disease in 2017 before he could be brought to trial. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherBoth men are also appealing the severity of their sentences. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 10 Nov2025
    In courtrte.ie, its first report
    Hutch getaway drivers lose appeals against conviction

    The Court of Appeal rejected all 38 grounds of appeal against conviction. The appeals against sentence are still pending.

    victim, David Byrne, irish (judged from name)David Byrneconvicted, Paul Murphy, 63, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Murphyconvicted, Jason Bonney, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jason Bonney
  2. 8 Oct2024
    In courtirishmirror.ie, its first report
    Regency attack getaway drivers appeal convictions claiming 'unfair' trial

    Court of Appeal hearing on the appeals of Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney against their Special Criminal Court convictions; judgment reserved.

    convicted, Paul Murphy, 62, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Murphyconvicted, Jason Bonney, 53, named, irish (judged from name)Jason Bonneyvictim, David Byrne, 33, irish (judged from name)David Byrnesuspect, Kevin 'Flatcap' Murray, named, irish (judged from name)Kevin 'Flatcap' Murray
  3. 12 May2023
    Otheririshtimes.com, its first report
    Who is Paul Murphy? Regency-attack getaway driver changed name by deed poll

    Adds background on Paul Murphy: his upbringing, work history, minor past convictions, that he bought a car from Eddie Hutch, and that his lawyers argued he did not foresee a murder and was not at the top end of the case. Gives his age as 61.

    convicted, Paul Murphy, 61, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Murphyvictim, David Byrne, irish (judged from name)David Byrne
  4. 17 Apr2023
    Convictedextra.ie, follow-up
    Two men found guilty of helping gang who murdered David Byrne at Regency hotel

    Headline only: the article reports that two men were found guilty of helping the gang that murdered David Byrne at the Regency Hotel. The body text is an empty template, so it gives no names, dates, sentence or court details.

    convictedconvicted
  5. 24 Jan2023
    In courtextra.ie, first report
    Regency Co-Accused Jason Bonney Was Working At House Miles Away Shortly After Attack, Witness Says

    Witness testimony regarding Jason Bonney's whereabouts shortly after the Regency Hotel attack, presented as part of the defence case.

    accused, Jason Bonney, named, irish (judged from name)Jason Bonney