THE parents of Regency Hotel murder victim David Byrne remembered him on the eighth anniversary of his death yesterday, crying: “We miss you so much.”
The Kinahan associate, 35, from Crumlin in Dublin, was shot six times in the head, face and stomach during the infamous attack at a boxing weigh-in on February 5, 2016.
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Flowers, as well as balloons bearing his name and photo, were placed outside the north Dublin hotel by his friends and family.
A message was left by Byrne’s parents, James and Sadie, who said: “Can’t believe you’re gone eight long years. We miss you so much. Our hearts are broke.”
One of the bouquets of flowers left at the spot was from Byrne’s sister Joanne, who is the wife of Thomas ‘Bomber’ Kavanagh.
His sister’s message said: “My beautiful baby bro — can’t believe it’s eight years since you were brutally murdered on us. We talk about you every day.
“You were the life and soul of our family and you have left a big hole in my heart. Our life is not the same without you.”
Another message was left by his older brother Liam Byrne, who remains in a UK prison as he awaits a trial on weapons charges.
It read: “My baby brother — I love and miss you so much.”
A floral tribute was also left at the site from his children.
After leaving the hotel tributes, members of the Byrne family and their friends then gathered at David’s graveside in Mount Jerome Cemetery, in Harold’s Cross.
Byrne’s lavish grave was also decorated with dozens of floral bouquets for the anniversary.
In previous years, those who gathered at the grave for the anniversary would have included Byrne’s brother Liam and close associate Fred Sines.
But Liam remains on remand in jail in the UK on firearms charges.
And Sines has distanced himself from other Kinahan cartel figures in recent months due to the global crackdown on the mob.
HUTCH NOT GUILTY
Last year, Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch was acquitted of Byrne’s murder after an explosive trial.
However, two long-time friends of the Hutch family were found guilty at the Special Criminal Court of acting as getaway drivers during the hotel attack.
Jason Bonney, 52, of Portmarnock, Dublin, was jailed for eight and a half years for his role in helping the Hutch Organised Crime Group.
And Bonney’s pal, Paul Murphy, 61, a taxi driver from Swords, Co Dublin, was caged for nine years.
Ms Justice Tara Burns declared the attack could not have been carried out without planning and “both men knew a serious crime was occurring”.
Former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall, 44, and his dad, Patrick, 66, were also banged up after admitting to having facilitated the Regency attack.
Dissident republican Kevin ‘Flat Cap’ Murray was also due to be charged but he died in 2017 from motor neurone disease before he could be brought to court.
Gardai previously admitted they were “prepared” for any incidents occurring on the anniversary of the Regency killing.
COPS ‘STAND PREPARED’
Ex-Assistant Commissioner for Organised and Serious Crime John O’Driscoll explained: “There are anniversaries of a whole range of incidents, and this is not the first anniversary of a particular incident.
“Every day we are preparing for and aware an incident can happen. Whether it’s on an anniversary, or at any other time, we stand prepared and hopefully we can get there before an event takes place.
“Unfortunately that’s not always the case, and then we must go into a mode where we have effective investigations into the serious injury or murder that has taken place.
“As you will be aware, there are many successful outcomes to those murder investigations also.”
Since David Byrne’s murder in 2016, some members of both his immediate and extended family have been the focus of major investigations.
Brother Liam and brother-in-law ‘Bomber’ Kavanagh are currently in UK prisons, while his nephew, Jack Kavanagh, remains in a Spanish prison awaiting extradition to the UK on arms charges.
Liam has also been hit by the Criminal Assets Bureau, losing his car, business and three homes.
BYRNE FAMILY SUFFERING
And Liam’s close friend Sean McGovern, who was also shot in the leg during the Regency attack, is wanted for the murder of Noel ‘Duck Egg’ Kirwan in December 2016 and other cartel murder plots.
The Hutch gang murder victim’s first cousin ‘Fat’ Freddie Thompson was jailed for life and another cousin, Liam Brannigan, was caged for his role in the attempted hit on Gary Hanley in 2017.
Another cousin, Liam ‘Bop’ Roe, remains isolated in Dublin after the recent crackdowns on the Kinahan mob over the last two years.
One source told The Irish Sun: “The Byrne family have suffered the most out of Daniel Kinahan’s decision to wage war on anyone remotely connected to Gerry Hutch.
“Daniel continues to lead his life, but it’s the Byrne family who have seen people killed and five members of their family also end up in prison.
“Some of them have lost their homes and their businesses because of the State’s response to the violence. Many of their friends are also in prison.”
DUBAI HIDEOUT
McGovern and Kinahan are both hiding out in Dubai. Talks between the Irish Government and their counterparts in the United Arab Emirates are continuing over a possible extradition treaty between the two countries.
The talks were arranged after a comprehensive file on Daniel Kinahan was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
We revealed how discussions would focus on securing a “one-off agreement” over McGovern’s extradition.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee said: “There is a possibility to have bilateral agreements as negotiations are taking place.
“This process is about putting those at the top of organised crime behind bars and holding them responsible for their actions.
“It’s clear from the UAE that they want to engage with us and they want to be working with the Gardai and their European partners.”
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