Former Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall is to begin his prison sentence in 23-hour lock-up in the State’s maximum security prison after being jailed for four years on Monday.
He was convicted for his role in the preparations for the 2016 Regency Hotel attack, the most infamous single incident of the Hutch-Kinahan feud. His father Patrick Dowdall received two years for the same offence.
However, their sentences will not start until October 31st after the defence was granted a two-week deferment on “humanitarian grounds”.
It is understood that the younger Dowdall is to use this time to dispose of his assets, including his house on the Navan Road in Dublin, in advance of entering prison and eventually the witness protection programme.
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The State did not object to the deferment. Due to the threats against Dowdall from organised criminals, gardaí do not believe him to be a flight risk.
The 44-year-old has agreed to give evidence against his former co-accused in the case, including Gerry Hutch. The Special Criminal Court heard he is expected to be admitted to the Witness Security Programme and to be given a new identity abroad.
Security sources say Dowdall will only be formally admitted to the programme on his release from prison.
Strict security measures are to be put in place to protect him in prison. This is likely to involve segregating him from most other prisoners.
He will begin his sentence in Portlaoise Prison but may be moved elsewhere depending on security requirements.
[ Jonathan Dowdall: From businessman to ‘bobblehead’ to convictOpens in new window ]
Portlaoise, which is at 75 per cent occupancy, has the most free space out of all the State’s prisons. However, it also houses some of the country’s most dangerous organised criminals who may pose a threat to the Dowdalls.
Consideration will be given to moving the pair to Arbour Hill Prison in Dublin, which is considered to have a much less violent prison population, sources said. It is the main prison for housing sex offenders and its population tends to be significantly older than those of other facilities.
Dowdall had been due to stand trial for murder in relation to the attack of February 5th, 2016. However, he entered a guilty plea last month to the lesser charge of facilitating the crime by helping to book a room in the hotel. His father Patrick Dowdall (65) pleaded guilty to the same offence and was jailed for two years on Monday.
The Dowdalls’ guilty pleas marked the first convictions in the long-running investigation. Mr Hutch is due to go on trial before the non-jury court on Tuesday accused of the murder of David Byrne, who was shot dead by men dressed as gardaí during the attack on the hotel.
The hearing at the Criminal Courts of Justice took place on Monday morning amid extensive Garda security, including armed officers stationed at the building’s entrance.
Mr Justice Tony Hunt said Jonathan Dowdall was not a person of previous good character, a reference to his conviction for abducting and torturing a man in 2015.
He said his life will become “more onerous and dangerous” due to his decision to give evidence in the upcoming trial and that his assistance has “placed him in significant peril, something which will continue after his release from prison.
However, the judge said this does not warrant an entirely suspended sentence. He imposed a four-year term, saying the court “can’t go any lower”.
His father, Patrick Dowdall, received a two-year term. Mr Justice Hunt noted he has several serious medical issues and that “likely he was caught up in aftermath of [his] son’s decision.” He also noted the older Dowdall made no effort to disguise his involvement in the crime.
Det Sgt O’Toole told prosecuting counsel Sean Gillane SC that the Dowdalls were implicated after gardaí investigating the attack obtained a list of guests staying at the hotel. They spotted Patrick Dowdall had used a credit card to reserve room 2104.
Jonathan then drove his father to the hotel the evening before the attack to pay for the room and to pick up the key card. They then drove to another part of the city and the key cards were handed over “to another person linked to the Hutch criminal organisation”.
Room 2104 was used on the night before the shooting by one of the attackers, Kevin Murray. He was seen on CCTV leaving the room on the morning of the attack and going to meet others. Murray then returned with the others in a van that parked outside the hotel. They launched the attack a short time later.
Defence counsel for both men said they did not know the room would be used as part of an attack. This was accepted by the prosecution.
Michael O’Higgins SC, for Jonathan, said the Dowdall family was close with the Hutch family, members of which would sometimes ask the Dowdalls to use credit cards to buy things online such as holidays and then repay them in cash.
Mr O’Higgins said his client previously borrowed money from a member of the Hutch family and was “somewhat compromised” as a result. He said he faces a “grim” future in witness protection, living in exile and constantly in fear.
Det Sgt O’Toole agreed neither Dowdall is a member of a criminal organisation.
Jonathan Dowdall is a father of four and was previously the owner of a successful electrical business, counsel said. He became a Dublin city councillor for Sinn Féin in 2014 but vacated his seat and resigned from the party after a year.
Patrick Dowdall suffers from a large number of health issues that are likely to shorten his lifespan, his counsel Michael Bowman SC said. “His future appears very uncertain,” he said.
