Hutch trial: Jonathan Dowdall denies planning 'mass murder' on secret tapes

The former Sinn Fein councillor also denied talking on the audio tapes about getting "people whacked" and planting bombs

Jonathan Dowdall (front left), surrounded by dock officers and police during the trial of Gerry "The Monk" Hutch (third left) for the murder of David Byrne at a hotel in Dublin in 2016. When he was accused of being "caught on tape planning mass murder", Dowdall replied: "That's ridiculous". Picture: Elizabeth Cook/PA

Ex-Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall, a former co-accused of Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch who has turned State's witness, has denied that he was caught on an audio recording planning "mass murder", discussing getting "people whacked" and planting bombs.

Under cross-examination for a fifth day, Brendan Grehan SC, defending Mr Hutch, played excerpts of the recording and asked Dowdall to explain to the court parts of what was said in these recorded conversations.