Groundhog day for Jonathan Dowdall as Gerry Hutch counsel repeats grilling

Mr Dowdall’s time in the witness box won’t be drawing to a close just yet.

Former Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall at one stage during the trial on Monday at the Special Criminal Court said his talk on the audio recording was “ rubbish talk to try and impress somebody.” File picture: Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire

It was Groundhog Day down at the Special Criminal Court. A sense of déjà vu in the air. The court was hearing the tapes again. Gerry Hutch was laughing at his description of a man nicknamed “Fish” being after a “Blue Peter badge” again.

And Jonathan Dowdall was expressing his displeasure at Brendan Grehan SC’s line of questioning again.