Jonathan Dowdall has claimed Gerry Hutch told him he was one of the men who shot David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin.

The former Sinn Féin councillor was brought into the courtroom under heavy guard and gave his testimony before the three judges of the non-jury court.

He began his evidence by telling the court he has known Gerry Hutch since he was a teenager but was much closer to his brother, Patsy, who used to lend him money when his electrical business had cash flow problems.

At Patsy’s request, he claimed he and his father, Patrick Dowdall, dropped off some key cards to a room at the Regency Hotel.

He claimed they were handed over to Gerry Hutch the night before the attack.

A few days later, he claimed Mr Hutch asked him to meet him in a small park. 

He described him as being “in a panic” and claimed he told him he and another man had shot David Byrne. 

He said he was “very agitated” and “not himself” and wanted him to set up a meeting with his Republican contacts because he feared a lot of innocent people were going to be killed.

His evidence continues.

Mr Hutch denies killing David Byrne.

Main image: The Special Criminal Courts. Picture by: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie