‘I’m not lying about Hutch accused’

A PROTECTED witness has denied she ‘wound her best friend’ – murder-accused Regina Keogh – into the narrative of the fatal shooting of Gareth Hutch and ‘fabricated’ her evidence.

Mary McDonnell was yesterday cross-examined by Ms Keogh’s barrister at the Special Criminal Court.

Patrick Gageby SC, defending Ms Keogh, cross-examined Ms McDonnell yesterday afternoon.

Ms McDonnell agreed with Mr Gageby that she takes medication for an epilepsy-related illness and she also suffers from depression.

The 45-year-old said she has been in hospital a lot and while there, Regina would look after her children.

The witness agreed with the barrister that she occasionally had suicidal thoughts and had previously acted on them. It was usually Regina who came to stop her, the court heard.

Ms McDonnell agreed with Mr Gageby that Regina had been a good neighbour and was her best friend.

The court previously heard that Ms McDonnell and her daughter stayed in Regina’s flat the night after the murder after her home was declared a crime scene by gardaí.

Ms McDonnell agreed with Mr Gageby that she told gardaí she had been badly treated by Regina that day.

Ms McDonnell got ‘a vibe’ that Regina did not want her there, the court heard.

Mr Gageby suggested to Ms McDonnell that his client had not asked her to assist in the murder of Gareth Hutch.

‘She brought nothing to your flat and asked you no favours,’ he said. ‘She did,’ replied Ms McDonnell.

Mr Gageby said to Ms McDonnell that she had wound Regina Keogh into the narrative and fabricated her evidence. ‘I’m not lying,’ said Ms McDonnell.

Mr Hutch, 36, nephew of Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch was shot dead as he was getting into his car outside Avondale House flats on North Cumberland Street in Dublin on the morning of May 24, 2016. He died as a result of four gun shot injuries.

Thomas Fox, 31, with an address at Rutland Court, Dublin 1; Regina Keogh, 41, from Avondale House, Cumberland Street North, Dublin 1, and Mr Keogh, 32, of Gloucester Place, Dublin 1, have pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Hutch.

Mr Fox has also denied unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9mm handgun on May 23, 2016, at the same place.