Gerry Hutch’s murder trial has heard that Jonathan Dowdall asked the garda who arrested him for the murder of David Byrne if there was “any way out.”

Mr Hutch is on trial for the murder of Mr Byrne, who was shot dead when armed men stormed a boxing event at the Regency Hotel in 2016.

Jonathan Dowdall may have finished giving his evidence in the trial but his name hasn’t strayed far from proceedings.

Arrest

Today, the court heard more detail about his arrest for the murder of David Byrne.

The former Sinn Féin councillor was taken in for questioning after clearing security at Dublin Airport in May 2016 – three months after the Regency attack.

The judges were told that, when he was brought to court a few days later, he asked the arresting garda if there was “any way out.”

The garda, retired detective Michael Mulligan, claimed he asked him a few days later if he and his family could go into the Witness Protection Programme.

Mr Mulligan said he told him that was “above him” and advised him to get his solicitor to contact the DPP.

The murder charge against Dowdall was dropped in September and he’s now being assessed for the programme.

Phones

The court has also begun hearing evidence in relation to eight phones seized as part of the investigation into the murder.

The court was told it would hear expert evidence in relation to the phones, as well as three numbers found on a burner phone that was only activated on the day of David Byrne’s murder

The three numbers on the burner only went live on that date too.

The case will continue next week.

Main image shows Armed gardai at the CCJ in Dublin during the Regency Murder Trial, 28-11-2022. Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews