Getaway accused calls new witness MAN TELLS COURT HE SAW THE DAD OF ALLEGED DRIVER IN JEEP
‘HELPED KILLERS ESCAPE’: Jason Bonney and (inset above) Paul Murphy
THE prosecution in the Regency trial has asked for time to consider its position after an unexpected witness was called in defence of Jason Bonney.
The stunning development came in yesterday afternoon’s proceedings in the Special Criminal Court trial of Bonney, Paul Murphy and Gerry Hutch.
Bonney (50), of Drumnigh Wood, Portmarnock, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016.
The central allegation against Bonney is that he drove his BMW X5 to
St Vincent’s GAA Club where the hit team were picked up at 2:41pm and made their escape.
Father
Now the trial has learned that Bonney claimed his since deceased father Willie was driving the BMW X5 that the State says is picked up on CCTV at St Vincent’s – forming part of a convoy of vehicles that aided the escape.
The trial also earlier heard evidence from an alibi witness, Julie
McGlynn, who told the court that she saw Bonney minutes after the shooting in Donaghmede, Dublin, and at a time when the BMW X5 was in St
Vincent’s GAA.
She claimed to have known him for 30 years and said she saw Willie getting into the BMW and driving off, with his son returning to a building site across the road.
But prosecuting counsel Sean Gillane SC accused the witness of failing to tell the truth and claimed that Bonney’s father was having a four-hour lunch with his daughter and son-in-law at the time on February 5, 2016.
John Fitzgerald SC, for Bonney, called his final witness yesterday afternoon, Peter Tyrell, who, the court heard, once took legal action against the Bonneys over ownership of a boxing club.
Mr Tyrell, who told the court he was not on good terms with both Bonneys in 2016, said he spotted Willie driving fast up behind him in the BMW X5 at around 2:44pm on February 5, 2016.
Mr Tyrell’s wife Jacinta had previously given evidence in relation only to CCTV from their home at Gracefield Road, north Dublin, which picked up her husband’s car pulling into the driveway as the BMW X5 passed by. Now Mr Tyrell has told the court he recognised the driver of the BMW X5 that day as Willie Bonney.
Mr Tyrell said he had a High Court case against Willie and Jason, a civil dispute about the boxing club ownership.
He told the court that when he pulled off the roundabout and the jeep came up behind him, he said he looked in the mirror and thought: “Jesus, that’s Willie Bonney driving that jeep.”
Mr Gillane then asked the witness to leave the room while he addressed the court on his concern about the evidence.
He said he was having “almost a Tommy Tiernan moment where I was wondering who the next guest was”.
He said he was surprised Mr Tyrell had been called and said he had no indication by way of the alibi notice that Mr Fitzgerald had furnished to the court in advance of his evidence being heard.
After a short break Mr Gillane told the court he would need time overnight to consider the evidence.
Ms Justice Tara Burns told Mr Fizgerald SC that the court should have had notice which should have formed part of the alibi notice that had already been given for Ms McGlynn.
The trial continues today when the first of the closing speeches from prosecuting counsel Fiona Murphy is expected.
SHOT DEAD: David Byrne