Claims FG behind feud murder are ‘grotesque’ – Flanagan
JUSTICE Minister Charlie Flanagan has described claims Fine Gael were involved in the Regency Hotel shooting as “grotesque” and “outlandish”.
Mr Flanagan said he expects gardaí and UK police are monitoring a YouTube channel which uploaded a short documentary suggesting a Fine Gael-led government orchestrated the shooting during the 2016 general election campaign.
“The new government will prioritise tightening up on this kind of communication,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, former Tánaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald, who features in the YouTube video, described the claims as “outrageous”.
“It’s outrageous to suggest that democratically elected politicians would have any sort of links to that level of serious criminal behaviour,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
The claim was made in a 14-minute, professionally made documentary published on a YouTube channel run by a Birmingham media organisation called Scarcity Studios.
The video features a re-enactment of the violent murder of David Byrne in the Regency Hotel in February 2016 during a weigh-in for a boxing match.
It features the false allegation that the gangland murder was linked to the 2016 campaign as Fine Gael used the crime to criticise Sinn Féin’s position on the special criminal courts.
Gardaí believe Daniel Kinahan was the main target of the gang who stormed the venue dressed in Garda uniforms.
Kinahan has been named in the High Court as being a central figure in an international drugs cartel established by his father Christy Kinahan.
Daniel Kinahan escaped the hotel unharmed and the attack led to a wave of violent murders of people linked to Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch.
At least two innocent people were killed during the horrific feud. Patrick Hutch went on trial for the murder of David Byrne but the charges against him were dropped by the State last February.
Another suspect, Kevin ‘Flat Cap’ Murray, died in the North before he could be extradited to face murder and firearm charges.