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. 3886Murder, attempted murder · Co. Dublin · 1 Feb 2016

Former Garda Drugs Bureau head reflects on Regency Hotel shooting

Former Assistant Commissioner Michael O'Sullivan, who headed the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, told the Irish Mirror's Shattered Lives podcast that the armed Hutch hit squad that killed David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016 was prepared to shoot anyone, including Gardaí, who got in their way, and that Daniel Kinahan was the main target.

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

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
16 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe hit squad that entered the hotel were prepared to shoot anyone who got in their way, even a Garda. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe armed Hutch hit squad killed David Byrne at the Regency. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe hit team's plan was to exit through an apartment block. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe expected police response would have been two detectives armed with two handguns. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatOne man died in the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe Hutch Organised Crime Gang carried out the hit and took advantage of Garda resource shortages. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatDaniel Kinahan narrowly escaped with his life at the Regency and was believed to be the main target. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe Regency shooting took place 10 years before the article was published. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponThe hit team were armed with Kalashnikovs. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationIn the first 24 hours, Gardaí feared the attack could have been Phase 1 of a larger plot. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe immediate priority was finding where the group went, where the weapons were, and whether they would appear elsewhere. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationInitially all Gardaí had was eyewitness testimony, with no Garda source at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí moved to warn dozens of people that their lives were in danger from a Kinahan backlash. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí quickly identified the Hutch gang as the chief suspects through their intelligence system. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherPrior to the incident, Gardaí were crying out for resources on the ground. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMichael O'Sullivan worked for over 40 years in the Garda force. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Feb2026
    Otheririshmirror.ie, follow-up
    Garda insider makes chilling claim about Regency hit

    Retrospective interview with former Assistant Commissioner Michael O'Sullivan reflecting on the Regency Hotel shooting 10 years later, describing the Hutch gang's plan, the immediate Garda response, and the anticipated Kinahan backlash.

    victim, David Byrne, male, irish (judged from name)David Byrnevictim, Daniel Kinahan, male, irish (judged from name)Daniel Kinahan