Thursday 29 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. 7636Murder · Co. Dublin

Supreme Court dismisses appeal by Regency Hotel getaway driver

Jason Bonney, 55, of Drumnigh Wood, Portmarnock, Dublin, and Paul Murphy, 64, of Cherry Avenue, Swords, Co Dublin, were convicted of facilitating the Hutch criminal organisation in the February 2016 murder of David Byrne, a Kinahan gang member shot dead at Dublin's Regency Hotel. The trial court found Bonney guilty of providing access to a black BMW on the day of the attack, and both men were tried alongside Gerard Hutch, who was acquitted of murder. The non-jury Special Criminal Court convicted Bonney and Murphy in April 2023, and they were jailed for 8½ years and nine years respectively, with the Court of Appeal rejecting their appeals in November 2025. The latest development is that the Supreme Court dismissed Bonney's appeal, finding his evidence should not have been treated as alibi evidence but that he suffered no injustice.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court21 Jul
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
David Byrne, a Kinahan gang member, was shot dead at the Regency Hotel in Dublin.
Where
  • The killing took place at the Regency Hotel in Dublin.
  • Jason Bonney, 55, lives at Drumnigh Wood, Portmarnock, Dublin, and Paul Murphy, 64, lives at Cherry Avenue, Swords, Co Dublin.
When
The killing of David Byrne took place in February 2016.
Cause
The killing led to a significant escalation in a feud between the two gangs.
Charges
  • Bonney and Murphy were convicted of facilitating the Hutch criminal organisation in carrying out the murder of David Byrne.
  • The trial court found Bonney guilty of facilitating the Hutch gang by providing access to a black BMW on the day of the attack.
In court
  • Bonney and Murphy were convicted in April 2023 by the non-jury Special Criminal Court, having been tried from January to April 2023 alongside Gerard Hutch.
  • The court acquitted Gerard Hutch of the murder of David Byrne.
  • The Court of Appeal rejected the appeals by Bonney and Murphy in November 2025.
  • The judge held that Bonney suffered no injustice when he was refused permission to raise the alibi argument.
  • In a judgment reported on 21 July 2026, a five-judge Supreme Court panel led by Judge Niamh Hyland dismissed Bonney's appeal.
Sentence
Bonney was jailed for 8½ years and Murphy for nine years.
Other details
The Supreme Court found Tyrell's evidence should not have been treated as alibi evidence, but held that Bonney suffered no injustice because the trial court was independently satisfied of his guilt and rejected both defence witnesses' testimony.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereJason Bonney, 55, lives at Drumnigh Wood, Portmarnock, Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • wherePaul Murphy, 64, lives at Cherry Avenue, Swords, Co Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThey were convicted of facilitating the Hutch criminal organisation in carrying out the murder of David Byrne in February 2016. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe trial court found Bonney guilty of facilitating the Hutch gang by providing access to the black BMW on the day of the attack. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtBonney and Murphy were convicted in April 2023 by the non-jury Special Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtBoth men were tried from January to April 2023 alongside Gerard Hutch. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe court acquitted Gerard Hutch of the murder of David Byrne. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal rejected the appeals by Bonney and Murphy in November 2025. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge held that Bonney suffered no injustice when he was refused permission to raise the alibi argument. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceBonney was jailed for 8½ years. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceMurphy was jailed for nine years. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe killing led to a significant escalation in a feud between the two gangs. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 Jul2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Supreme Court dismisses appeal by Regency Hotel getaway driver over conviction

    The Supreme Court, in a five-judge panel led by Judge Niamh Hyland, dismissed Bonney's appeal, finding that while Tyrell's evidence should not have been treated as alibi evidence, Bonney suffered no injustice as the trial court was independently satisfied of his guilt and rejected both defence witnesses' testimony.

    victim, David Byrne, irish (judged from name)David Byrneconvicted, Jason Bonney, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jason Bonneyconvicted, Paul Murphy, 64, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Murphyconvicted, Gerard Hutch, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gerard Hutch