Episode 1270: Two men linked to ‘Irish Mafia’ arrested in armed raid in Colombia

STATE Witness Jonathan Dowdall will appear in the Special Criminal Court on Monday, but before he gives evidence a senior Garda officer from the Crime and Security Unit will tell him that his performance in the box won’t necessarily secure him a place on the Witness Protection Programme.In another extraordinary day at the Regency Hotel trial where Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch denies murdering David Byrne, the court heard that Dowdall has not yet been accepted on the Programme and is still being assessed for his suitability.Prosecution barrister, Sean Gillane SC, told Justices Tara Burns, Sarah Berkeley and Grainne Malone that reports from external agencies are required and that it usually takes six months for the process to be completed.The Judge said she did not accept that as she had worked in trials where it was done far quicker.So, how will Dowdall feel when he finally swears to tell the truth to the court? Today, Nicola Tallant talks with Niall Donald about witness protection, a flabbergasted judge and the much-anticipated arrival of former Sinn Fein Councillor Jonathan Dowdall into the witness stand at the high-profile trial. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10 Dec 202234min

FORMER Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall has agreed to give evidence against Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch at the Special Criminal Court - but a Judge has demanded to know his status on the Witness Protection Programme.Justice Tara Burns, who is presiding over the Regency Hotel murder trial, said she was unhappy with a note she was given relating to Dowdall's position and has ordered the matter to be cleared up immediately.The Witness Protection Programme falls under the remit of the Garda’s Crime and Security wing, headed up by Assistant Commissioner Orla McPartlin.The senior officer has already appeared before the three-judge panel, when called to explain why gardai chose to destroy data relating to a tracking device.Justice Burns ruled that while aspects of Dowdall's transition to witness were not without difficulty, the court is entitled to hear his evidence.Today, Nicola Tallant talks with Niall Donald about the much-anticipated witness who once stood accused of murder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9 Dec 202225min

STATE witness Jonathan Dowdall could be delayed in giving his evidence at the Regency Hotel murder trial as defence lawyers continue to argue his permission to take the stand.Complex cross-examination of gardai involved in the investigation has revealed how Dowdall and his wife Patricia reached out to investigators after he was charged with the murder of David Byrne before he eventually gave a 50-page statement to officers.His status on the Witness Protection Programme is expected to be clarified today, when the court will decide what happens next.Nicola Tallant chats with Niall Donald about the evidence from the Regency trial and the details that have emerged of Dowdall’s route from accused to witness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

8 Dec 202238min

THREE gangland shootings in one night. One dead drug dealer, a hitman on the run and a feuding mob baying for revenge.Nicola Tallant talks with Irish Independent Crime Correspondent Ken Foy about the violence that has erupted in gangland and three separate murder attempts in one night.The pair discuss the reasons behind the murder of Cormac Berkeley, the attempt on the life of notorious criminal James ‘Nellie’ Walsh and the repeated attempts to shoot Finglas gangster 'Mr Flashy' and his young associate.Is the surge in violent gun attacks a fallout from the collapse of the Kinahan empire, or is a bullet just a way of doing business in the chaotic underworld? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7 Dec 202227min

THE conviction of gangland hit-men Robert ‘Roo’ Redmond and his sidekick Bernard Fogarty marks the end of the short and dangerous careers of Dublin’s one-time, most-feared assassins.This week, as the pair settle in to a life sentence behind bars, Nicola Tallant talks with Niall Donald about the chaos and fear spread by the murderous duo.They discuss death threats to innocent families, terrifying selfie videos and the brutal gun murder of dad Barry Wolverson, who survived in a catatonic state for 13 months after he was shot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7 Dec 202224min

Crime World 'boss' Nicola Tallant hosts this special, live edition of The Dingle Whiskey Movie Club from a packed Sugar Club in Dublin.Over the past five weeks our expert panels have rated and reviewed some of the most famous mob movies ever to grace the silver screen - from The Godfather to Goodfellas, to Scarface and Casino, it was an offer we couldn't refuse.Now, before a live audience, the Crime World 'Capos' discuss some of the real-life gangsters that inspired the movies, and why many of the characters have parallels in the modern-day underworld. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6 Dec 202249min

A three-man assassination squad scouted out Irish crime boss Robbie Lawlor’s movements before carrying out his contract killing, a Belfast court has heard.The three formed a cell intercepted by police following the shooting, but were then released and allowed to leave Northern Ireland, it has emerged.So, what are the claims that were made as bail was refused to accused Adrian Holland, who is charged with the murder of Lawlor in April 2020, and just who are the three-man assassination squad?Today Nicola Tallant talks with Niall Donald about the murder of Lawlor and the intriguing evidence that has come out so far. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3 Dec 202224min

THE judges at the Special Criminal Court are set to rule on the admissibility of evidence relating to 10 hours of conversation between murder accused Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch and ex-Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall, captured by a garda bugging device on March 7 2016.The defence, led by Brendan Grehan SC, says almost eight hours of the contents of the audio recording of the conversations should be thrown out, as Dowdall's jeep was travelling through Northern Ireland at the time and therefore is ‘illicit fruit’.The prosecution disagrees, and counsel Sean Gillane says the bug was an inanimate object and the recordings are lawful as the device was deployed, retrieved and downloaded in the Republic.The decision will be hugely significant for garda operations and for criminals. Nicola Tallant chats with courts reporter Alison O’Riordan about the crossroads in the Regency trial and what the judgement will mean for gardai, the surveillance act and the accused. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1 Dec 202225min