Ex-Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall's appeal against Special Criminal Court trial struck out

Jonathan Dowdall (pictured) is due to stand trial at the non-jury Special Criminal Court after losing his challenge against the DPP’s decision. File picture

An appeal by former Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall against the High Court's refusal to overturn a decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to try him for the Regency Hotel murder at the Special Criminal Court (SCC) has been struck out by the Court of Appeal.

Dowdall (44), of Navan Road, Dublin, and Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch (58) – who was extradited from Spain last September – are both charged with the murder of David Byrne (33) at the hotel in Whitehall, Dublin, on February 5, 2016.