MONK TRIAL 

Jonathan Dowdall says kids subjected to death threats over giving evidence against Hutch, court hears

• Published: 15:14, 16 Dec 2022
• Updated: 15:15, 16 Dec 2022

JONATHAN Dowdall has said his children have been subjected to death threats on social media every day since he said he would give evidence against Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch, the Special Criminal Court has heard.

The former Sinn Fein councillor was giving evidence for a fifth day in relation to the Regency Hotel murder of Kinahan cartel thug David Byrne.

Brendan Grehan SC, for Hutch, has been going through recorded interviews he gave to Gardai in May, 2016, in which he repeatedly denied any knowledge of who was involved in the gun attack.

He also said he had no idea about his father booking a room in the hotel the night before the murder, which was subsequently used by one of the gunmen, although his mobile phone pinged off the nearest phone.

He told the court: “This happened in 2016. It was April 21 that I was accused of murder.

“From that time, no one from any side interfered with my children and my wife.

“When I came to give evidence, the level of intimidation increased, the threats. 

“Telling my mother, a 62-year-old woman, that she’s dead and my children are dead. This is a whole different level. This is why nobody comes and gives evidence.”

‘DIDN’T TELL LIES’

When Mr Grehan pushed him about telling lies to the gardai, Dowdall responded: “I didn’t tell lies to the gardaí. I couldn’t speak in the interviews, I’ve explained that. 

“There were children as young as 10, their lives are under serious threat. There are death threats issued every day on their Twitter pages.