Former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall has made himself available to be a witness in the murder trial of Gerry Hutch.
At the Special Criminal Court this morning, it was heard Mr Dowdall has given a formal statement to gardai implicating "other persons" relating to the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016.
The court heard that Dowdall is currently under garda protection, is currently being assessed for witness protection and will never live again in Ireland.
Read More : Gerry The Monk Hutch trial LIVE: Huge armed garda presence at court
Dowdall, 44, and his father Patrick, 65, were before Mr Justice Tony Hunt this morning at the non-jury court for a sentencing hearing.
The father and son, who both have an address of Navan road, Cabra, Dublin 7, last week pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016 as part of the Hutch-Kinahan feud, by making a room at the hotel available for a criminal organisation or its members the night beforehand.
This morning at the Special Criminal Court, Dowdall and his father entered the courtroom flanked by two plain clothes gardai. A number of other undercover officers were in the court room as every security measure was taken.
The court heard from Det Sgt Patrick O'Toole who said the Dowdall family is now in protective garda custody following the north inner city Dubliner giving a statement to gardai.
An assessment is currently being carried out by investigators who believe the risk is "severe" to ex politician Dowdall and his family.
The court heard how Dowdall made himself available last November to speak to the gardai.
At the time, he was in prison serving a seperate sentence before that expired and he was released on bail in late April. Dowdall met with the gardai and his information was subsequently followed up and checked by investigators.
Det Sgt O'Toole, in the witness box, agreed with Dowdall's Senior Counsel Michael O'Higgins that the information was "sincere and genuine." The court heard that Dowdall has implicated "other persons."
It was also heard that he is willing to give evidence as part of Hutch's murder trial, which is due to start later today.
Giving details of how Dowdall and his father Patrick's offence, prosecution counsel Sean Gillane told how room 2104 of the Regency Hotel was booked. It was done by using Patrick Dowdall's credit card.
He later claimed to gardai that he cancelled the room but the court heard that CCTV showed him arriving on February 4, 2016, and being given two key cards and then directions to the room.
He went to the room for a short time before he met with Jonathan Dowdall. The key cards were given to a member of the Hutch criminal organisation.
READ NEXT:
All we know about Belfast shooting as further details emerge and victim named locally
- Met Eireann's good news for all but two areas this weekend before grim change next week
- Full list of energy companies hiking bills this weekend as customers rush to submit meter readings
- Disabled mum describes nightmare as her Ryanair flight takes off as she watched from special assistance vehicle
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
