Ex-Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall bids to halt his trial for Regency Hotel murder

Dowdall and Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch are due to stand trial at the non-jury Special Criminal Court

Jonathan Dowdall has been charged with the murder of David Byrne.

Former Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall has launched a two-pronged appeal 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).

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.