Regency accused gets bail after surety of €10,000 lodged

Patrick Dowdall, who is accused of facilitating the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016, has been granted bail after a man entered a surety of €10,000 on his behalf. The identity of the independent surety cannot be revealed by order of the Special Criminal Court.

On Thursday morning Tony McGillicuddy SC for Mr Dowdall said that the High Court had previously granted bail but the surety had to be entered at the Special Criminal Court where Mr Dowdall is due to go on trial.

The surety was told that his bank account would be frozen so that it cannot go below €10,000. If Mr Dowdall fails to meet his bail conditions the money could be forfeit. The surety said he was aware of the terms and was willing to enter the bond.

Patrick Dowdall (64) of the Navan Road in Dublin is accused of participating in or contributing to activity intending to or being reckless as to whether his actions could facilitate the murder of David Byrne. The indictment alleges that he made a room available at the hotel for a criminal organisation or its members on February 4th, 2016.

He is due to go on trial in October with his son Jonathan Dowdall (44), a former Sinn Féin councillor also of Navan Road. Jonathan Dowdall is charged with murdering Mr Byrne during a boxing weigh-in at the hotel in Whitehall, Dublin on February 5, 2016.

Last week two people entered sureties of €20,000 and €10,000 on Jonathan Dowdall’s behalf after he had also been granted bail by the High Court.