The Regency Hotel murder trial has been hearing more evidence in relation to the destruction of records relating to a tracking device placed on a vehicle of interest.
The judges were previously told that Jonathan Dowdall’s jeep was under surveillance as he drove Gerry Hutch to Northern Ireland two weeks after David Byrne’s murder.
After Jonathan Dowdall became a person of interest in the investigation into David Byrne’s murder at the Regency Hotel, a decision was made to bug his Toyota Landcruiser.
The judges were previously told that conversations between him and Gerry Hutch as they drove to Northern Ireland, apparently to meet Republicans, were recorded.
A tracker was also placed on the vehicle to follow its movements and yesterday, the court heard the records in relation to that device had been destroyed.
Today, the court heard the Director of Public Prosecutions wasn’t consulted before the destruction order was made.
One of the two senior officers who approved the destruction order insisted it was done in accordance with law. He said it was unnecessary to keep the records because direct evidence would be given by witnesses who tracked the jeep.
Gerry Hutch denies murdering David Byrne. His trial continues before three judges of the non-jury court.
Reporting by Frank Greaney
