Prison bosses are on high alert for the imminent movement of State witness Jonathan Dowdall, we can reveal.
Sources have told this paper that “Jonathan Dowdall’s bags have been packed” in Limerick prison.
“Bags were packed last week in anticipation of the verdict and what might happen next,” a source said.
It is not clear if Dowdall has been admitted to the Witness Protection Programme or not, but sources say authorities in the Irish Prison Service acted to be ready for any eventuality - including potential security concerns, this week.
It means the former Sinn Fein councillor could be instantly moved out of prison without a moment's notice.
Dowdall is still serving a four-year sentence for the facilitation of David Byrne’s murder at the Regency Hotel in Dublin on February 5, 2016.
However, sources say if he is admitted to the programme, all options could be considered, including his potential release from prison under a temporary release scheme.
It comes after Ms Justice Tara Burns' scathing comments during the judgement in the Gerry Hutch murder trial, in which she said it could not be said that Dowdall suddenly “found God,” - and it was clear he stood to benefit by speaking to gardai.
He claimed that he met with Gerry Hutch in a park in Whitehall two or three days after the Regency and that The Monk confessed to the murder.
However, the judges completely rejected this evidence and said Dowdall was not a reliable witness who could be trusted.
Dowdall's murder charge was dropped and replaced by the facilitation charge before he gave evidence in the trial of Gerry Hutch.
He was then to be considered for the Witness Protection Programme on the basis of an ongoing threat to his life.
Dowdall had claimed his life was over once he turned State witness but insisted he was telling the truth about Hutch.
Now that his evidence has been rejected and The Monk walks free, it isn’t clear if this will have any impact on his application.
Dowdall is currently housed on an extremely restricted landing of Limerick Prison, occupied only by one other prisoner - his father Patrick.
Patrick Dowdall is serving a two-year sentence for his role in facilitating the murder, by booking a hotel room at the Regency which was ultimately used by ‘Flat Cap’ shooter Kevin Murray.
In her summary of the judgement yesterday, Ms Justice Tara Burns stated that Dowdall would no doubt be able to rebuild his life.
The former councillor claimed that no matter the outcome he would do so, and claimed that he didn’t care if he was killed - so long as his family was safe.
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