State witness Jonathan Dowdall is confident of winning his appeal and leaving the country within weeks – to start a new life under the witness protection programme.
The former Sinn Fein Councillor is expected to be moved to Arbour Hill jail in Dublin from his own wing in Limerick Prison before his appeal hearing on June 20.
Dowdall, who testified against Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch at the Regency murder trial, believes his sentence will be shortened on appeal to time already served.
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A well-placed source said the 44-year-old expects to be flown out of Ireland with his family immediately on his release.
Dowdall is reportedly hoping a deal can be done “behind the scenes” for his release before the end of the month, even if he loses his appeal.
The source said: “Dowdall is due to be moved over the next two weeks to Arbour Hill prison in Dublin, which mostly houses sex offenders and lifers.
“He will need to be in Dublin for his appeal hearing and logistically it’s the safest option to have him in a jail in Dublin.
“Dowdall believes he will win his appeal, in fact he is apparently very confident of it. If he does win his appeal the plan will be to escort him straight onto a plane with his family and fly straight out of Ireland.
“It will be a top secret operation that very few will know about and will most likely happen under the cloak of darkness.
“Dowdall and his wife and kids will be relocated to an English speaking country under the witness protection programme.
“Some small town in Canada or America most likely. He is hopeful that it will be a new start for him and his family.”
Dowdall was sentenced to four years for his role in facilitating the murder of David Byrne who was shot dead at a boxing weigh in at the Regency in February 2016.
His father Patrick Dowdall, 65, was jailed for two years and was released from prison this year.
The source said: “The sad reality is that no matter where he goes Jonathan Dowdall will spend the rest of his days looking over his shoulder.
“There is a possibility that he will have to undergo some form of cosmetic surgery to alter his appearance as his face is so well known.”
Ms Justice Tara Burns made scathing remarks in delivering the Special Criminal Court’s judgement clearing Gerry Hutch.
She said the judges rejected Dowdall’s evidence and that he was not a
reliable witness who could be trusted.
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