Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has commented after a former party councillor was charged with murder today.
Jonathan Dowdall, 43, a former north inner city councillor for the party was charged at the Special Criminal Court with the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016.
Mr Byrne, 34, was shot dead at the hotel in Whitehall, Co Dublin, in February 2016 after five men, three disguised as armed gardaí, stormed the building.
Mr Dowdall, with an address at Navan Road, Cabra, Dublin 7, appeared at the brief hearing on Tuesday when the registrar read the single charge to him.
Mr Dowdall is charged with the murder of Mr Byrne, contrary to common law, at the Regency Hotel in Whitehall, north Dublin, on February 5, 2016.
Reacting to the news, Ms McDonald said: "Jonathan Dowdall left Sinn Féin many years ago and went on to oppose the party.
"The gardai have my ongoing and unwavering support in tackling the scourge of organised criminal gangs in my constituency.
"These are the most serious of charges coming after a lengthy Garda investigation, which will be heard and decided in court.
"Justice must take its course and those found guilty of violent crimes must be taken off our streets."
Mr Dowdall appeared in the court after meeting with detectives in the body of the court this morning where he was charged with the murder.
Mr Justice Tony Hunt remanded Mr Dowdall in custody to June 14 for service of the Book of Evidence.
His father, Patrick Dowdall, is already before the court alongside two co-accused charged with involvement in the murder.
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