Hutch defence team want to know if there was illegal use of tracker device

local summary4 public source leads5 related reports

Person profiles: Jonathan Dowdall Shane Rowan

Gerard Hutch's defence team have raised concerns at the Special Criminal Court about whether gardaí deployed a tracker device on a vehicle belonging to former Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall and used it illegally in Northern Ireland. Hutch, aged 59, denies murdering Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne during a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC told the court that establishing whether such surveillance occurred is of significant importance, particularly given that using a tracker outside the State would breach the law. The defence has sought information since June regarding how gardaí came to investigate specific locations in Newry where Dowdall's Toyota Land Cruiser was observed. Several National Surveillance Unit members have claimed privilege when asked about tracking devices. Ms Justice Tara Burns acknowledged that relevant information should be provided to the defence. The trial continues before the three-judge non-jury court.

Source: Courts News Ireland This page is a localnews.ie summary and index entry; the full original report may require a publisher subscription.

Source links

Original report plus public source leads and related archive reports used for review context.

Public source leads

The crime boss, the by-election and the dying wasps - RTÉ rte.ie
Feb 14, 2026 · Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch has announced he will be running in the upcoming Dublin by-election. But who is the man behind the Hutch organised crime gang and …
€1.7bn Defence Forces plan announced amid ‘changing’ and … irishtimes.com
Dec 11, 2025 · She said it was “essential” that Ireland’s defence continued to be funded amid “changing” and “emerging” threats.
Suspicious betting on Gerry Hutch in Dublin Central byelection ... irishtimes.com
4 days ago · Most of the money placed on the Dublin Central byelection on the controversial Polymarket platform came from accounts engaged in highly suspicious betting …
Gerry Hutch immigration comments show dark side of Irish politics breakingnews.ie
May 12, 2026 · Here, we take a look at the issues likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come

Related court reports

State tells Regency trial that CCTV footage shows Hutch and Dowdall travelling North together Courts News Ireland · 2022-10-25
The Special Criminal Court viewed CCTV footage on 25 October as part of the trial of Gerard Hutch, charged with the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne at the...
Dowdall denies he is "master manipulator" Courts News Ireland · 2022-12-13
Jonathan Dowdall, a former Sinn Féin councillor and State's witness in the trial of Gerard Hutch at the Special Criminal Court, has denied characterisations that he is...
Garda bug sought under 'culture of secrecy', Hutch lawyers tell Regency trial Courts News Ireland · 2022-11-25
At the Special Criminal Court, defence counsel for Gerard Hutch have argued that a garda audio recording of conversations between Hutch and former Sinn Féin councillor...
Monk said he and other man shot David Byrne, Dowdall tells Regency trial Courts News Ireland · 2022-12-12
Jonathan Dowdall, a former Sinn Féin councillor, has given evidence at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin against his former co-accused Gerard "The Monk" Hutch, who...
Dowdall claims Monk is 'terrorising' his family Courts News Ireland · 2022-12-16
Jonathan Dowdall, a former Sinn Féin councillor, told the Special Criminal Court that he and his family are being terrorised and face death threats since agreeing to...