Gerry “The Monk” Hutch was observed by a surveillance garda meeting with the man later caught with the AK-47s used in the Regency shooting, his trial heard yesterday.
The allegation came on day eight of the Special Criminal Court trial of Hutch, 59, who is accused of the murder of David Byrne at the Dublin hotel on February 5, 2016. The court also heard evidence yesterday that The Monk’s brother, Patsy, met that same man, Shane Rowan, just 34 minutes before he was caught with the AK-47 rifles used in the attack.
Several gardai, who are members of the National Surveillance Unit gave evidence before the court yesterday, including an officer who alleged they observed and photographed Hutch at a home in Co Donegal associated with Rowan on February 20, 2016.
Read more: Gerry Hutch trial shown CCTV alleged to be of him and Jonathan Dowdall, 15 days after Regency attack
Rowan, from Killygordon, Co Donegal, was subsequently jailed for seven-and-a-half years in July 2016 after he was caught with the AK-47 rifles used in the Regency attack on the evening of March 9 that year. The officer speaking in court yesterday was identified only as Member L and is attached to the Garda Crime and Security division.
Member L said they observed Rowan emerging from a property in the Killygordon area of Co Donegal, where he asked a vehicle to move out of a driveway area at 4.15pm.
The vehicle moved and at 4.35pm Member L said he observed a 02DL registered Silver Volkswagen Passat park up in the space. The surveillance garda said he observed three individuals in the vehicle, Paul Bosco McCreavy, Jonathan Dowdall and Gerry Hutch.
McCreavy and Dowdall, who has since pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of Mr Byrne, were allegedly observed going into the property associated with Shane Rowan. Hutch meanwhile got into a 161D registered Land Cruiser which was parked nearby until he was “beckoned” inside, according to the garda.
At 5.05pm that evening the officer said he observed Hutch, Dowdall and McCreavy emerging from the house and walking in the direction of the Toyota Land Cruiser. He said he saw Dowdall carrying a “small black hold-all bag with an orange trim” and placing it into the rear of the jeep.
At that stage he said he saw Gerry Hutch in the passenger side of the Land Cruiser, while Dowdall got into the driver’s side. Member L went on to allege he saw Rowan emerge from the house and walk in the direction of the Land Cruiser before he stopped, turned around and went back inside.
At 5.10pm he said he observed McCreavy getting into a silver Audi A4 which was parked nearby and he left the area.
Hutch and Dowdall also then departed the area and 10 minutes later the witness said he saw Rowan coming out of the house, getting into the Passat and leaving. The court was then shown a series of photographs taken by Member L on the day of the surveillance operation. The photos allegedly show Hutch leaving Rowan’s property in Killygordon.
They also depict Dowdall with the hold-all bag, which he’s seen apparently placing into the back of a Toyota Land Cruiser jeep. Another photo allegedly depicted Mr McCreavy. Another Garda witness, AG, told the court that they were in the Coolock area of Dublin on March 9 2016 when they observed a 04CE grey Toyota Yaris
He said he saw Patsy Hutch, a brother of Gerry, driving and behind him “in a convoy” was who he identified as Shane Rowan in a dark coloured Vauxhall. Next said they observed Patsy Hutch driving the Yaris accompanied by Rowan in the front passenger seat of the same car.
Later that day at 6.16pm the officer said they again observed Patsy Hutch “accompanied by Shane Rowan” going into the Woodies car park where they sat for a period of time. At 6.30pm Rowan was back in the Vauxhall vehicle and allegedly observed turning left onto Greencastle Road and heading towards traffic lights, where he waited, the court heard.
Member AG told the court they observed Patsy Hutch driving up the same way in the Yaris and pulling up next to Mr Rowan’s car.The windows appeared to be open and the garda said they “got the impression” that the two men were having a conversation with one another at the junction.
Garda subsequently recovered the three AK-47 rifles at 7.05pm that evening from Rowan’s Vauxhall in the Slane area of Co Meath. During yesterday’s hearing Defence Counsel Brendan Grehan challenged the notion that the officers have their identities concealed.
However, Ms Justice Tara Burns said that Mr Hutch is “entitled to a fair trial,” and that “we will ensure that his rights are upheld” “as in any other court in the land”.
Read more:
- RTE to screen new series on GAA coming to Mountjoy Prison
Three restaurant closures announced in Dublin and surrounding areas this week
Smock Alley Theatre debuts play spilling all on Irish weddings
Bray's beloved Box Burger announces closure amid rising business costs
Fortune teller who died violently at rural Westmeath home named
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.
