Jonathan Dowdall, the key witness in Gerard Hutch’s trial for David Byrne’s murder, has been accepted into witness protection. Despite Hutch’s acquittal, Dowdall, who had already testified, had his admission approved on the grounds of ongoing and severe threats from members of Hutch’s organised crime group. He is serving a four-year term for assisting in the Regency attack and is likely to be given a new identity and livelihood in an English-speaking overseas country.

Jonathan Dowdall, who served as the State’s key witness in the trial of Gerard Hutch, has been accepted into witness protection by the Republic of Ireland’s Garda Síochána Independent Commission. Despite Hutch’s acquittal by the Special Criminal Court of the Republic of Ireland of David Byrne’s murder during the 2016 Regency Hotel shooting, Dowdall’s move into the Witness Security Programme remains unaffected. Dowdall will almost certainly be relocated abroad to an English-speaking country and be given a new identity and livelihood before being placed under the protection of local security services. He will be at continuing risk from the Hutch group.