Dowdall denies being caught planning mass murder

'It's lies, it's rubbish talk trying to impress someone, there's nothing to it,' said Dowdall

Court artist sketch of Jonathan Dowdall being cross examined during the trial at the Special Criminal Court, Dublin. Picture: PA

Ex-Sinn Féin 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 by Mr Hutch's defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC, Dowdall denied he wanted to "blow up" lifelong criminal Trevor Byrne "while he slept in his bed at night", or suggesting that the wife of jailed criminal Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh should be kidnapped at a dancing event.