A FORMER SINN Féin councillor has been charged at the Special Criminal Court with the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016.

Byrne was shot dead at the hotel on the Swords Road in Dublin, in February 2016 after five men, three disguised as armed gardaí, stormed the building.

Jonathan Dowdall (43), a former north inner city councillor with an address at Navan Road, Cabra, Dublin 7, appeared at the brief hearing this morning when the registrar read the single charge to him.

Dowdall is charged with the murder of David Byrne, contrary to common law, at the Regency Hotel on the Swords Road, Whitehall, Dublin 9, on 5 February 2016.

Dowdall appeared in the court after meeting with detectives in the body of the court this morning where he was charged with the non-scheduled offence of murder.

State solicitor Ciara Vibien told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Claire Loftus, had instructed that Dowdall be tried at the Special Criminal Court.

Vibien said that a body warrant had been issued by the Special Criminal Court for  Dowdall on Friday and that he was appearing today on foot of that warrant.

The non-jury Special Criminal Court is chosen if the DPP believes the ordinary courts are inadequate to secure the administration of justice and the preservation of public peace.

Detective Garda Paul Darley of Ballymun Garda Station gave evidence to the court that he had met Dowdall at 10.35am this morning, when he handed Mr Dowdall a true copy of the charge.

Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Ms Justice Sarah Berkeley and Mr Justice David McHugh, remanded Dowdall in custody to 14 June 14 for service of the Book of Evidence.

Dowdall is represented by solicitor Jenny McGeever.

Wearing a silver jacket, Mr Dowdall stood when the charge was read to him and did not speak during the hearing.

Dowdall’s father, Patrick Dowdall, is already before the court alongside two co-accused charged with involvement in the murder.

Patrick Dowdall (64) with an address at Navan Road, Cabra, Dublin 7, is accused of participating in or contributing to activity intending to or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation or any of its members, to wit the murder of David Byrne, by making a room available at the Regency Hotel, Drumcondra, Dublin 9 for that criminal organisation or its members, within the State on 4 February 2016.

Co-accused Paul Murphy (59) is charged with supplying logistical support to a six-man team suspected of carrying out the murder on 5 February 2016.

He is charged with participating in or contributing to activity intending to or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation or any of its members, to wit the murder of David Byrne, by providing access to individual motor vehicles to that criminal organisation or its members, within the State on 5 February 2016.

Finally, Jason Bonney (50), of Drumnigh Wood, Portmarnock, Dublin 13, is charged with participating in or contributing to activity intending to or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation or any of its members, to wit the murder of David Byrne, by providing access to individual motor vehicles to that criminal organisation or its members, within the State on 5 February 2016.

All four cases are due to appear before the three-judge court on 14 June for service of the Books of Evidence.

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