Regency Hotel murder trial adjourned for two days

The trial of Patrick Hutch, accused of the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel two years ago, has been adjourned until Wednesday morning.

Mr Hutch (25) of Champions Avenue, Dublin 1, is pleading not guilty at the non-jury Special Criminal Court to the murder of Mr Byrne (34) at the Regency Hotel in Dublin on February 5th, 2016.

He also denies possessing three AK47 assault rifles in connection with the shooting.

The shooting took place during a boxing weigh-in at the hotel, the court has heard, when a man dressed as a woman and another wearing a flat cap, armed with handguns, followed by three people dressed in tactical-style Garda uniforms and carrying assault rifles, raided the venue.

It is the prosecution’s case that Mr Hutch was the man dressed as a woman and that he did not shoot Mr Byrne but was part of a “shared intention” to commit the offence.

Sean Gillane SC, prosecuting, told the court on Monday that arising out of a ruling on Friday, when the court admitted into the trial evidence identifying the accused as the man dressed as a woman, the prosecution had received from the defence lawyers a “far-reaching and multifacted request for certain things”.

Michael O’Higgins SC, for Mr Hutch, said there are “specific things” the defence need answers to.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, sitting with Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Ann Ryan, adjourned the trial until Wednesday morning.